Rory McIlroy is as soon as once more among the many pre-tournament favourites heading into The 152nd Open, however is that this the week he enjoys main redemption and at last ends a decade-long drought?
McIlroy gained The Open at Royal Liverpool in 2014 and claimed the PGA Championship later that summer season, though the Northern Irishman has been unable so as to add to that tally since, regardless of 21 main high 10s over the last 10 seasons.
The previous world No 1 seemed destined to say a long-awaited fifth main victory when he held a two-shot lead with 5 holes remaining on the US Open final month, solely to bogey three of his final 4 holes and end a shot behind Bryson DeChambeau at Pinehurst No 2.
McIlroy bounced again from his main disappointment to complete tied-fourth final week on the Genesis Scottish Open and is anticipated to impress once more at Royal Troon, with former Ryder Cup gamers Andrew Coltart and David Howell discussing his hopes within the newest Sky Sports activities Golf podcast.
“I think he deals with it [the disappointment] very well,” Coltart mentioned. “The way in which he speaks and by taking himself away to collect his ideas. He says he does not actually search an excessive amount of recommendation from folks, he simply will get on with it himself and simply figures it out.
“I couldn’t do that. It would hurt me massively, but I hope that’s part of the strength and the thing that he can use to come back and win again.”
How will McIlroy reply?
McIlroy revealed he modified his cellphone quantity and hung out in Manhattan after his US Open end, then mentioned in his press convention forward of The Open that he had gone from “being very disappointed and dejected to trying to focus on the positives” inside 4 days of the loss.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
McIlroy explains he missed Tiger Woods’ message after the US Open however has just lately caught up with the 15-time main champion
“He [McIlroy] is going to have learnt so much,” Howell mentioned. “What did he learn? He learned that he freed up and he attacked the final round and he had it within him to get into that dominant position.
“He additionally discovered that he obtained out of his personal zone – he was too frightened about what Bryson was doing simply behind him. He obtained out of place a few instances and he left himself in probably the most troublesome half on the golf course on the ultimate gap.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
What does the climate have in retailer for the 152nd Open at Royal Troon?
“I think he’ll learn loads from that experience. I think he’s almost moved on from it. I think he’ll take the positive learnings from that week, he’ll attack the final round again if he’s in place and he’ll know to keep the blinkers on.
“Profitable a significant championship is basically onerous and you have to return to what it was like while you have been first attempting to win your first championship, which is that is an extremely troublesome factor to do. It is a case of enjoying all 72 holes earlier than wanting and if he does that, he may effectively win this week.
The Open Dwell
The Open Dwell
Thursday 18th July 6:30am
“When he had the debacle at The Masters the first time around, when he blew the four-shot lead, what does he do? At Congressional, a few weeks later, he wins his first major championship. It wouldn’t surprise me whatsoever if he did it again.”
Get the perfect costs and ebook a spherical at one in all 1,700 programs throughout the UK & Eire
What else is on the podcast?
Coltart and Howell be a part of common host Josh Antmann to debate all the large speaking factors forward of this week’s main, together with the problem of Royal Troon and what the gamers can anticipate this week on the Postage Stamp and a few of the “card-wrecker” holes.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
World No 1 Scottie Scheffler has excessive reward for Royal Troon’s signature gap ‘The Postage Stamp’ and believes brief par-threes are all the time finest
They debate whether or not Scottie Scheffler was proper to take a three-week break from PGA Tour motion forward of his journey to Scotland, the place he chases a seventh win in 11 begins, plus talk about whether or not Tommy Fleetwood can finish the 32-year look ahead to an English winner of The Open.
DeChambeau’s hopes of a second successive main title are additionally mentioned and predictions are given for who will elevate the Claret Jug, whereas Robert MacIntyre’s dramatic win on the Genesis Scottish Open and a shock Ryder Cup appointment for Keegan Bradley are different topics on the menu.
Obtain and take heed to the most recent Sky Sports activities Golf podcast and remember to subscribe by way of Spotify, Spreaker or Apple Podcasts! If you would like to contact the podcast, then you possibly can e mail at golf@skysports.com.
