McIlroy confident of putting LIV drama to bed after 'perfect' Open preparation
Rory McIlroy has admitted he feels "old" returning to Royal Liverpool nine years after his first and only Open triumph.
The Ulsterman started his Open story by winning the Silver Medal as top amateur as a mop-headed teenager at Carnoustie in 2007. On the Wirral in 2014, he joined Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods in the exclusive club of players to win three Majors by the age of 25.
And when McIlroy claimed his fourth at the US PGA the following month in his golden summer, the Golden Bear predicted he could go on to win "15 or 20 Majors". Since then, marriage, fatherhood, LIV Golf and countless near misses have happened for the world No.2.
It is such a long time that his former fiancee Caroline Wozniacki, who he split with in May 2014, has had time to win her a Grand Slam title, retire, have two kids and now make her own comeback.
Sir Nick Faldo told Mirror Sport that McIlroy faces a "psychology test" in Hoylake because "he's got lots of scar tissue from the last nine years". McIlroy has racked up 19 top-ten finishes in Majors since 2014, including his second place at last month’s US Open.
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"I've had so many close calls since," he said. "I've had a great nine years and won a lot of tournaments but the big four have eluded me. Hopefully this week that's something I can change. It's nice to be back here. It's not like I think about it all that often so it's nice to come back and re-familiarise myself with the course. t's nice to come back to a major venue you've won on but it also makes you feel a bit old."
McIlroy caused comment in September 2014 when he stated Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were "getting into the last few holes of their career". The two American veterans - now aged 47 and 53 respectively - have both won more Majors than the 34-year-old since.
McIlroy won last weekend's Scottish Open (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)Do you think Rory McIlroy will win the Open? Let us know in the comments below!
McIlroy seemed inspired by his vocal opposition to LIV Golf last year as he won the Tour Championship, the DP World Tour rankings and returned to world No.1. But he admitted last month he felt like a "sacrificial lamb" after the shock peace deal with the Saudis. And despite saying last week he would rather "retire" than play LIV Golf, he followed the pattern of his last four events - starting at the US Open - by cancelling his pre-tournament press conference yesterday.
He did speak to TV after beating the rain but not his mate Shane Lowry in a practice round yesterday. Tiger Woods won here during a drought in 2006 but the third round in 2014 was brought forward to avoid a storm.
But asked if the memories came flooding back, McIlroy said: "A little bit. Maybe not as much as you would think. Over the past nine years a lot has happened in my life and I've played a lot of golf tournaments. But there's a few things that I remember, and it's nice to get back on to the golf course and sort of re-familiarise myself with it.
"It's in superb condition. It's a very strategic golf course off the tee. It's very, very well bunkered and I think the biggest challenge of this golf course is avoiding those pot bunkers off the tee."
McIlroy arrives in good form with six top-10 finishes on both sides of the Atlantic capped by his brilliant birdie-birdie finish to win the Scottish Open. "I couldn't ask for better preparation," he said. "The way I played the last two holes was an amazing finish and a perfect way to come into this week."
"I think regardless of whether I won or not, I would have come in here confident with the way I've played over the last sort of month and a half. My game feels like it's in good shape, but I think seeing the way I played last week and being able to control my ball in pretty difficult conditions, I feel good about that coming into this week."
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