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'It's nice to be able to accept adulation, even though I struggle with it at times'
'It's nice to be able to accept adulation, even though I struggle with it at times'

The 42

time18 minutes ago

  • Climate
  • The 42

'It's nice to be able to accept adulation, even though I struggle with it at times'

THE FIRST DAY'S worth of Rory Spotters at Royal Portrush had to be early risers. Having finished in a tie for second at the Scottish Open yesterday evening, McIlroy dashed straight from the course to the Antrim coast, getting into his accommodation around 1am. He reconciled himself to four hours' sleep before heading for Royal Portrush, in a bid to get in as much preparation as he could before the descent of the madding crowds. He got through a full 18 holes, and was only truly spotted on the course as he started his second nine, and stopped to sign autographs as he left the final green. Among the quiet rumours cast out like fishing bait to explain McIlroy's sullen humour at the PGA Championship in May was a sense he had been unhappy with his preparation: a forsaken night's sleep was his means of addressing the same this week. 'The last couple of majors, at the PGA and the U.S. Open, the practice rounds took so long', said McIlroy at his pre-tournament press conference, its Monday afternoon scheduling another instance of his getting his work out of the way early. 'I feel like there's 50 people inside the ropes all the time. I feel like I just can't get good work done, good preparation. I didn't come up here ahead of time to try to get a couple of practice rounds in, so I just wanted to get out early, sort of beat the rush, beat the crowd, and do my work with not a lot of people around.' He was rewarded for his early start: McIlroy was done and dusted by the time play suspended owing to a local thunderstorm. While Bryson DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler have recently challenged McIlroy's status as the crowd favourite Stateside, Rory is undoubtedly the star attraction this week; back in a town lined with people eager to touch the hem of his green jacket. Advertisement This early start is a sign of how McIlroy has sought to navigate that adulation, which he knows is one of his biggest challenges of the week. McIlroy infamously missed the cut when the Open was last held in Portrush six years ago, making a baffling quadruple bogey on the first hole, taking a driving iron off the tee and going out of bounds nonetheless. His early radar had been walloped askew by the punch of noise that greeted him on the way to the first tee. 'The walk to the first tee and then that ovation, I was still a little surprised and a little taken aback, like 'Geez, these people really want me to win'', said McIlroy. 'I think that brought its own sort of pressure and more internally from myself and not really wanting to let people down. I guess it's just something I didn't mentally prepare for that day or that week. 'But I learned pretty quickly that one of my challenges, especially in a week like this, is controlling myself and controlling that battle. I talked about it at the Masters on that last day. The battle on that last day wasn't with Augusta National. It wasn't with Bryson. It wasn't with Justin Rose. The battle that day was with myself.' McIlroy searches for his ball on the first hole of the 2019 Open. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo And so he's got a second chance this week to figure out how to deal with the pressure that comes with adoration. 'I think in '19 I probably tried to isolate', continued McIlroy, 'and I think it's better for everyone if I embrace it. I think it's better for me because it's nice to be able to accept adulation, even though I struggle with it at times. 'But it's also nice for the person that is seeing you for the first time in a few years. It just makes for a better interaction and not trying to hide away from it. 'I think it's more of an embrace everything that's going to come my way this week and not try to shy away from it or hide away from it, and I think that'll make for a better experience for everyone involved.' McIlroy's other major hurdle to overcome in recent weeks has been his post-Masters hangover. He admitted to struggling for motivation in the weeks after that wild triumph, but he says a small break and a skip across the Atlantic has helped him to reset. Though he came up short to American Chris Gotterup in Scotland yesterday, it was his first Sunday truly in contention since the Masters, and since missing the cut at the Canadian Open he has finished T19 at the US Open and T6 at the Travelers' Championship. 'I've alluded to this, but I probably just didn't give myself enough time to let it all sink in', he said. 'But that's the nature of professional golf. They do a very good job of keeping you on the hamster wheel, and you feel like it's hard to get off at times. 'I sort of approached last week and this week as a 14-day chunk of getting some really good work in, especially last week: this is your time to lock in for two weeks and do everything that you need to do, and then reset again and then try and build myself back up for the Ryder Cup.' At one point during his press conference, a journalist alluded to McIlroy's Masters triumph and said the pressure is now off. ' Is it?', interjected McIlroy. 'Is the pressure off?' It never is.

Rory McIlroy told to change character as Open champion's dad makes £296m claim
Rory McIlroy told to change character as Open champion's dad makes £296m claim

Daily Mirror

time19 minutes ago

  • Sport
  • Daily Mirror

Rory McIlroy told to change character as Open champion's dad makes £296m claim

The Open Championship gets underway at Royal Portrush on Thursday, with 2014 champion Rory McIlroy among the major contenders to get his hands on the Claret Jug The 153rd Open Championship returns to Royal Portrush this weekend, with Rory McIlroy in serious contention to win on home soil. However, Xander Schauffele will be a tough man to beat as he defends his title in Northern Ireland. McIlroy is in top form for his homecoming, having just finished second in the Genesis Scottish Open. Twelve years after first winning the Claret Jug, the 36-year-old is back in fray and has received some sage advice from two former champions. ‌ One previous Open winner is eager to see McIlroy triumph but is acutely aware of the pressure on his shoulders this weekend. Another wants to see the world No. 2 opt for the light-hearted approach following a tricky few months. ‌ In other news, Schauffele's father has disclosed the hefty price it would take for his son to abandon the PGA Tour for LIV Golf. And the figure might not be what the organisers of the Saudi-funded series were hoping for. £296m LIV claim made by star's dad Despite many stars leaving the PGA for lucrative deals with LIV, Schauffele has remained loyal to the tour that made him famous. However, this loyalty was tested when the Californian was offered between £112million and £148m to join the deserters. These figures were mentioned by Stefan, Schauffele's dad, as well as his long-time swing coach and agent, in a recent interview with The Times. But according to Schauffele Sr, even doubling that offer wouldn't have been enough to persuade his son to leave. ‌ "They could've doubled the money and we still wouldn't do it," said Stefan. For the Schauffele family, securing the ranking points needed to qualify for major championships remains the top priority. Given this stance, there's may be no realistic sum LIV could present that would tempt Schauffele, who pocketed £2.3m for his Open triumph last year, to abandon the PGA Tour. The defending Open champion will once again put his reputation on the line as he attempts to become the tournament's first consecutive winner since Padraig Harrington in 2008. ‌ Open winner offers McIlroy guidance Speaking of Harrington, the Irishman feels for McIlroy as he arrives at Royal Portrush carrying enormous expectations. Having ended his major drought this year and completed the career Grand Slam by capturing the Masters, he's now in excellent form and competing in familiar territory. Everything appears perfectly positioned for the Northern Irish sensation to mount a serious challenge on a course he knows intimately. However, Harrington warned of the potential pitfalls that can emerge when things seem almost too favourable. ‌ "Yeah, poor Rory, everyone seems to build up the pressure on him being the favourite," he told BBC Sport. "But if you want to be at that level the pressure's always going to be on you. Clearly, he knows Portrush very well, he'll have the support and there's no doubt we'd love to see an Irish winner." McIlroy's recent runner-up finish at the Scottish Open has quelled the drama surrounding his driver. And Padraig Harrington believes McIlroy is set for more major wins, regardless of this weekend's outcome. "Him going with the Masters' jacket, I think it's enough for him to just swan around and wave to the crowds," the three-time major winner opined. "He doesn't have to win. The people always want him to win the next major or whatever, but it doesn't have to be this one. I know it would be nice to be Portrush, but he'll win plenty more majors." ‌ McIlroy told to lighten up After his victory at Augusta, which ended an 11-year drought for a major title, McIlroy seemed on top of the world. However, trouble soon followed when his Masters-winning driver was deemed to be non-conforming with regulations at the PGA Championship. Forced to abandon his most reliable club, McIlroy faced a series of disappointing performances. And in order to deal with any outside pressure coming his way, six-time major champion Lee Trevino suggested McIlroy should handle such situations with a sense of humour. "He's going to the tee, these guys are full of Bud and they're saying, 'Rory, is this driver legal?' You don't need that s***," he told The Times. "He could have used some humour. I'd have said, 'I'm trying to be No1, and if I can get another five or six illegal clubs in this bag, I'm going to try.'" Perhaps that's not McIlroy's approach, as he'd rather allow his performance on the fairways speak for itself. And having rediscovered his form with the driver, The Open could be precisely the right moment to prove his point.

Shane Lowry hoping for more Open magic at Royal Portrush
Shane Lowry hoping for more Open magic at Royal Portrush

Reuters

timean hour ago

  • Sport
  • Reuters

Shane Lowry hoping for more Open magic at Royal Portrush

July 14 - Missing the cut at the past two majors hasn't dimmed Shane Lowry's confidence as the Irishman returns to the scene of his greatest triumph this week. Lowry followed up a T42 at the Masters with early exits at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow and the U.S. Open at Oakmont. He won his lone major at The Open Championship at Royal Portrush -- site of this week's championship -- in Northern Ireland in 2019, finishing 15-under to defeat Englishman Tommy Fleetwood by a whopping six strokes. "I kind of pride myself on not missing cuts, especially in the big events. I feel like I can always get myself there or thereabouts in the big events and I have done over the last number of years," Lowry said Monday at Royal Portrush. "But I've been consistently quite good this year. I've given myself a couple of chances to win, which I'm very disappointed that I didn't, but we've got a few months left to kind of redeem myself and get a win on the board." Lowry, 38, who skipped last week's Genesis Scottish Open, is ranked No. 18 in the world and has four top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour this season. He tied for second at the Truist Championship in May and was second at Pebble Beach in February. "No matter how well you're playing the season, if you don't have a win beside your name at least once, you don't really class it as being very good," Lowry said. "Yeah, but my season has been going -- I've got a good FedExCup ranking (17th) at the minute and things have been going all right." Lowry said he'd "spent the last six years" trying to figure out why everything came together for him at Royal Portrush in 2019. "I'd been playing pretty solid, like really good golf the whole year," he said. "Then I came to a place that I knew and I loved, and it just all clicked. I was playing some of the best golf of my life." At last year's Open at Royal Troon, Lowry held the lead entering Saturday's round and finished sixth. Despite the disappointing results at the last two majors, Lowry said he feels like he is a better golfer now than he was six years ago. "But it doesn't mean I'm going to go out and win by seven this year instead of six. It's just golf; that's the way it is," he said. "I think, as a golfer, you always have to look at it as the glass is always half full. You can't look at it any other way. If you look at it any other way, you're going to be in trouble. So I try and look at it that way all the time." --Field Level Media

What's on this Week: All eyes on Royal Portrush for the final major of the season
What's on this Week: All eyes on Royal Portrush for the final major of the season

Khaleej Times

time3 hours ago

  • Sport
  • Khaleej Times

What's on this Week: All eyes on Royal Portrush for the final major of the season

The world of golf, and much of the sporting world, will pause this week as The 153rd Open Championship tees off Thursday morning at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland. While the official prize purse has yet to be announced (in true Major tradition), last year's Open at Royal Troon carried a hefty $17 million purse. Expect similar stakes this time around. Also up for grabs: 5,000 Ryder Cup points. For context, last week's Genesis Scottish Open, a Rolex Series event, offered 2,000, underscoring the monumental significance of The Open, particularly for DP World Tour players chasing Ryder Cup qualification. This could be a career-defining week for many in the field. But while The Open takes centre stage, the show goes on elsewhere. On the PGA and DP World Tours, the Barracuda Championship runs parallel in California, offering a $4 million purse and valuable points for those just outside the Major spotlight. Over in Germany, the German Challenge powered by VcG is another crucial stop on the HotelPlanner Tour, where players fight for promotion on the Road to Mallorca. The top 20 on the final season rankings earn a golden ticket to the DP World Tour. Professional golf remains a relentless pursuit—from elite Majors to development tours around the world. This week is a perfect illustration of that ecosystem in action, with talent rising from every level of the game. One player missing from the action is Dubai-based Englishman Paul Waring, who withdrew from the Genesis Scottish Open due to injury. Fingers crossed he's fit for next week. Meanwhile, on the women's side, a huge congratulations go to 21-year-old amateur Lottie Woad (ENG). With a tied third-place finish at the 2025 Amundi Evian Championship, she secured the final two points needed on the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP) to become eligible for LPGA membership. The burning question: will she turn professional now, or wait? She says she's taking time to consult with family, coaches, and management before making that call. Whatever she decides, the pro game is watching and waiting. This Week's Key Events The 153rd Open Championship Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland ?July 17–20, 2025 Tours: PGA Tour & DP World Tour Barracuda Championship Tahoe Mt Club, California, US July 17–20, 2025 Purse: $4 million Tours: PGA Tour & DP World Tour German Challenge powered by VcG Wittelsbacher Golfclub, Germany July 17–20, 2025 Purse: €300,000 Tour: Challenge Tour

LIV Golf's push for world ranking points recognition nears pivotal point at The Open
LIV Golf's push for world ranking points recognition nears pivotal point at The Open

Khaleej Times

time3 hours ago

  • Sport
  • Khaleej Times

LIV Golf's push for world ranking points recognition nears pivotal point at The Open

At this week's Open Championship, it is understood that a meeting of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) Board will take place under the chairmanship of Trevor Immelman. The Board includes representatives from Augusta National, the European Tour Group, international federations of PGA Tours, the PGA of America, the PGA Tour, The R&A, and the USGA. Among other matters, it is believed—and widely reported—that LIV Golf has applied for consideration for inclusion in the OWGR. In March 2024, LIV Golf withdrew its previous application in what appeared to be a strategic standoff. However, time can be a healer, and common sense now seems to be gaining ground. Top Talent Goes Unranked It is widely accepted that many LIV golfers are not properly represented in the current OWGR. For instance, players such as Bryson DeChambeau (15), Tyrrell Hatton (23), Patrick Reed (61), Jon Rahm (72), and Joaquin Niemann (90) are the only LIV players currently ranked in the OWGR top 100. Recognition by the OWGR is vital for LIV players. It determines eligibility for Major Championships, the Ryder Cup, the Presidents Cup, and other key events in the global golf calendar. For LIV Golf, OWGR inclusion is also crucial in attracting ambitious young talent and maintaining relevance on the world stage, beyond its internal ecosystem. Peter Dawson, former OWGR chairman, previously explained why LIV's initial application did not progress: 'It is entirely technical. LIV players are self-evidently good enough to be ranked. They're just not playing in a format where they can be ranked equitably with the other 24 tours and thousands of players trying to compete on them.' Now, with many new figures in senior positions across the global golf landscape, the opportunity for constructive dialogue has never been stronger. Game Demands a Solution A solution must be found - for the good of the game, its players, fans, tournaments, and the wider golf ecosystem. One major concern remains LIV Golf's format. All 52 players compete in each of its 14 events, with a 54-hole, shotgun-start, no-cut structure. While fresh and innovative, this format conflicts with existing OWGR criteria. The individual-versus-team dynamic presents another challenge. LIV Golf heavily promotes its team element as a unique selling point, yet OWGR is built around individual competition across global tours. There's no doubt LIV Golf has shifted the golf landscape in significant ways, many of them positive, attracting new audiences and reshaping the professional scene. There's also an urgent need for relevant and fair ranking systems for men's and women's golf, both professional and amateur. Ever since their introduction in 1986, OWGR rankings have sparked ongoing debate over accuracy and credibility. But until now, their foundation has rarely been seriously challenged. Now, LIV Golf is testing that foundation, with some of the world's top players involved. Is there a path forward? The governing bodies face a major challenge—or perhaps, an opportunity. Flexibility and creativity are needed on both sides, more than either has shown before, without compromising core principles. This debate isn't going away. Golf fans and players alike will be watching closely to see what comes next.

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