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Free Malaysia Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- Free Malaysia Today
McIlroy confident of handling emotional British Open on home turf
Rory McIlroy became just the sixth man to win all four Majors when he won the Masters in April. (AP pic) PORTRUSH : Rory McIlroy insists the emotion of his return to Royal Portrush for this week's British Open will not distract him from challenging for the title. It will be the second time that Northern Ireland's McIlroy has competed in his own country in the British Open after the tournament was staged at Royal Portrush in 2019. Back then, the world No 2 tried to block out the noise surrounding the event's return after a 68-year absence to the links where he set the course record of 61 as a 16-year-old. But McIlroy struggled to handle the passionate support he received from local fans as he missed the cut by a stroke. 'I think I remember the ovation I got on the first tee on Thursday and not being ready for how I was going to feel,' the 36-year-old told reporters today. 'I was a little surprised and a little taken aback. I was like, 'These people really want me to win'. I think that brought its own sort of pressure and more internally from myself and not really wanting to let people down. 'I learned pretty quickly that one of my challenges, especially in a week like this, is controlling myself and controlling that battle. 'I think in '19 I probably tried to isolate 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.' The five-time Major winner has spoken of struggling for motivation following the completion of his career Grand Slam with a dramatic victory at the Masters in April. McIlroy became just the sixth man to win all four Majors when he beat Justin Rose in a play-off at Augusta. After a disappointing spell following that memorable triumph, he is hopeful an encouraging joint-second place at the Scottish Open last week will be the springboard for a title charge at Royal Portrush. 'I'm certainly encouraged by how I've played the last two starts, especially last week in Scotland,' he said. 'I think the two weeks off after the Travelers (Championship) just to reset, to get over here, a bit of a change of scenery has been really nice. 'I'm excited with where my game is. I felt like I showed some really good signs last week. 'I feel like I'm in a good spot and – not that last week was a pure preparation week – but I definitely feel like it put me in a good spot heading into here.'
The Guardian
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Rory McIlroy finds his mojo getting out of bunker trouble on day one at Scottish Open
The latest glimpse of a return of Rory McIlroy's mojo arrived over the closing stretch of the Scottish Open's first round. He has spoken of an understandable need to find new mountains to scale after Masters glory completed a career grand slam. On the 15th hole at the Renaissance Club, the Northern Irishman was in trouble; his fairway bunker shot had rolled back towards his feet. McIlroy's ball sat in the mark created by his first attempt. 'It served me right for trying to hit a nine-iron with the lip two feet in front of me,' he said later. The response was notable. The world No 2 pitched out sideways, holed from 21ft – and the fringe of the green – for a bogey and rattled off three birdies in a row over the closing holes. A 68 to start at the tournament which precedes McIlroy's Open Championship tilt at Portrush was hugely impressive in context. He sits only four shots from the lead. 'It was a great finish,' McIlroy said. 'The round was a bit stop-start, there was a little bit of rust in there after taking a couple of weeks off. I felt like I found my rhythm and started hitting better shots on the way in. It is the sort of course and these are conditions where the field will be pretty bunched so to be only four behind, feeling like I still have my best stuff ahead of me, is good.' The winner of five majors has the chance to make further impact from his early Friday start. McIlroy's finish involved converted putts of 26ft on the 17th and 19ft at the last. His birdie at 16 was a straightforward one, the par five having been comfortably reached in two. He regards his game as 80% towards where it needs to be for Portrush. 'I'm ready to play,' he added. 'A change of scenery has been nice, getting back over here has sort of renewed my excitement and enthusiasm for the rest of the season.' Colombia's Nico Echavarría, Sepp Straka, Victor Perez and Jake Knapp head proceedings at six under. Marcel Siem is among those at minus five. The German, now 44, admitted he has toned down the heavy partying that sat alongside his golfing pomp. 'I am not getting any younger,' said Siem. 'I have to look after my body more now. I know I can stand on the range and hit golf balls, I've done it my whole life. But it's more about recovery, sleeping well and not drinking. 'I think those days of drinking and playing golf are over unfortunately. There is a time and place for it. It's nice to enjoy a few pints after a good result, for example. The problem is I'm not in training any more. Two years ago, if I have one or two beers for dinner, it's fine. But I can't do it any more. On Monday this week, I had two pints of Guinness and felt horrible the next day. I think I am getting too old to be drinking and playing golf.' Siem is hoping to earn an Open berth with a strong performance in East Lothian. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion Viktor Hovland, playing in McIlroy's company, signed for a 66. The world No 1 Scottie Scheffler looked puzzled by the greens at various points but still produced a 67. 'I wish I would have played a little bit better,' said the US PGA champion. 'But overall, I felt like I did some good things out there and hung in there nicely and put up a decent score. I wish it was a little bit lower but not too bad of a first round.' Scheffler played alongside the defending champion Bob MacIntyre, who posted a 68. Justin Rose headed straight for the putting green after a level-par 70.
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Rory McIlroy sends bullish message to his rivals ahead of PGA Championship as world No 2 looks to follow up his Masters triumph
For all the time he spent in the rough over the weekend, Rory McIlroy says he is in a 'good place' going into the season's second major. No doubt that sense of comfort is drawn equally from the recency of the Masters and the forthcoming surroundings of the PGA Championship. Of all the courses on the circuit, none has been bent to McIlroy's will quite like Quail Hollow over the years. That he has won there four times will be a recurring talking point between now and Thursday's first round, though there is also a minor question to ask about the performance of his strongest weapon. It might qualify as nitpicking after a credible seventh-placed finish at the Truist Championship — his fifth straight top-10, including two wins — but missing 20 of 28 fairways in Philadelphia does point to room for improvement. In moderation of any concern, it should be highlighted that Quail Hollow, at a huge 7,626 yards, favours brute length over accuracy, which is precisely the way McIlroy plays. His anxieties appear minimal ahead of the journey to Charlotte, North Carolina. 'I think I'm in a good place,' the world No 2 said. 'I didn't feel like I played all that well and I still finished seventh. Even what I feel is my bad golf, I'm still there or thereabouts. 'A couple little improvements and little tweaks, especially going to a place I love like Quail Hollow, and I feel like I'm in a really good spot.' On his driving, the world No 2 added: 'I sort of struggled with this as well in Houston (the Houston Open in March, in which he was fifth), whenever we get these big, wide, open golf courses where there's not a ton of definition. I think I would have hit more fairways if it had been tree lined. 'I felt like I drove it a little better on the back nine on Sunday, which was good. Overall I felt like I got a little better as the week went on. 'I've got a better gauge of where my game is standing here right now than I did at the start of the week. It was a good week for that. I wish I had gotten myself into contention a little bit more, but it was a good week, especially looking ahead to the PGA.'
