The Open pocket book: Harry Types rumours, Rory McIlroy’s telephone, Tiger Woods and Bob MacIntyre at Royal Troon

A glance again at a few of the storylines – on and astray – from the pre-tournament observe days forward of The 152nd Open, that includes Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Bob MacIntyre and a seek for Harry Types!

Troon’s youngsters seek for Types!

The Open attracts stars from past the world of golf, though some younger followers had been left disillusioned by a noticeable absentee from Troon earlier within the week.

As adidas and Sky Sports activities celebrated their new partnership at a particular occasion on Monday night within the city centre, rumours started circulating that Harry Types was amongst these in attendance.

The story definitely gathered momentum all through the night, with tons of of excited youngsters lining the streets outdoors the venue for hours in an try and get a glimpse of the previous One Course star.

A number of warnings that he was not there did not halt their enthusiasm and persistence, as they believed they had been being advised false data and – in consequence – continued to attend till lengthy after darkness fell.

Their efforts had been in useless as they left with out seeing Types, though one of many crowd did stroll away with a framed Andrew Coltart photograph. That is a greater prize anyway, proper?!

MacIntyre makes late entry to Troon

It was a close to excellent sporting Sunday for a lot of Scots on the eve of the event, as Robert MacIntyre snatched a dramatic win on dwelling soil on the Genesis Scottish Open earlier than England had been crushed within the Euro 2024 closing.

MacIntyre had warned after his win that he and his group would “pitch up when we pitch up” to The Open, insisting he “would celebrate hard” his second victory in as many months, which did increase questions on when he would truly flip as much as Royal Troon.

The Ryder Cup star had been on account of have a pre-tournament press convention at 3pm on Monday, but it surely was little shock to see his arrival delayed to Tuesday and people media duties pushed again to Wednesday lunchtime.

“I don’t think I’ll be in a fit state to get to Troon,” is what MacIntyre advised reporters after his win, an early indication of the evening forward later described as “absolutely wild”. Who can blame him – might he be celebrating once more come Sunday night?

Can I’ve your quantity, Rory?

Everybody is aware of how a lot of a ache it may be to alter your cellular quantity, with it generally leaving a time period the place folks battle to maintain involved with you, and also you danger lacking out on some essential data.

Rory McIlroy revealed throughout his pre-tournament press convention that he switched his quantity final month, a call made a few days after his disappointing finish to the US Open, with the concept to ‘create a little bit of area’ from the media messaging him inside hours of his runner-up end at Pinehurst No 2.

He described how “about 10 or 15 text messages from media members” earlier than he had acquired again dwelling from that closing spherical sparked the transfer, though failed to present Tiger Woods his new quantity and ended up lacking a message from the 15-time main champion.

McIlroy’s unintentional ‘blanking’ of Woods – who texted him the week after the loss – solely grew to become obvious to him once they spoke in particular person about it in Scotland, with the four-time main champion grateful for the help being despatched his means.

He additionally mentioned he would “never shun messages of support or encouragement”, so there might nicely be lots requesting that new quantity ought to he have an opportunity of ending his decade-long main drought over the weekend.

Indicators of the ‘previous’ Tiger?

We’re not saying for one second that Tiger Woods is on the identical bodily degree of his peak years, however there have been flashes – on and off the golf course – to supply indicators of encouragement heading into this week’s main.

The very fact he’s teeing it up at Royal Troon means he’ll full a full main calendar for the primary time since 2019, whereas a full 18-hole observe spherical on Sunday is one thing we have not often seen from in a serious week for the reason that automobile crash in February 2021.

Woods advised the media that he had been ‘busting it fairly exhausting within the gymnasium’ for the reason that missed minimize on the US Open, with the 15-time main champion wanting far leaner and more healthy than we’ve got develop into accustomed throughout his current restricted schedule.

The extremely competitor was completely satisfied to share tales in his press convention of reaching out to McIlroy, plus previous experiences of disappointments he has skilled, with Woods giving prolonged solutions on quite a lot of subjects.

Woods’ humour was additionally proven with a quick-witted response to Colin Montgomerie’s feedback from a number of days earlier, the place he questioned whether or not the previous world No 1 ought to have already retired. Woods will now wish to function in all 4 rounds and present why he hasn’t known as time on his main profession.

Who will win The 152nd Open? Watch prolonged protection this week reside on Sky Sports activities. Dwell protection begins on Thursday from 6.30am on Sky Sports activities Golf. Stream The Open and extra high sport with NOW.