Rory McIlroy

Every day is a school day in major championship golf and Rory McIlroy plans to draw on all of his experiences if he gets a shot at victory in The 152nd Open.

McIlroy appeared on course to end his 10-year wait for a fifth major at last month’s US Open but two bogeys in the final three holes, and a superb bunker shot from Bryson DeChambeau, saw the title swing decisively towards the American.

The 2014 Champion Golfer decided to take a break ahead of The Open and flush the disappointment away. He even changed his phone number – and consequently missed a consolidation text message from Tiger Woods – as he took time off in Manhattan.

Refreshed and relaxed, he is keeping things in perspective - and keen to highlight a major record few players, if anyone, can match for consistency in the last 10 years.

His next chance comes this week at Royal Troon and McIlroy is buoyed a game in good order. He has eight top-10 finishes from his last 11 major starts, including the last two Opens.

The 35-year-old is among the favourites to contend again this week and is in full belief that when he next has a chance to win – he will take it.

"Hopefully I get myself in that position again, and if I do, I know I'll handle it a little bit better,” said the Northern Irishman, who tees off at 10:09am local time in round one.

“I know that I'm in a good spot. If I think about 2015 through 2020, that five-year stretch I seldom had a realistic chance to win a major in that five-year period. 

“I'd much rather have these close calls. It means that I'm getting closer.

“Absolutely, I'd love to be able to play the golf and get one over the line, but as soon as I do that, people are going to say, well, when are you going to win your sixth? So it's never ending.”

McIlroy need look no further than his close friend Woods for inspiration. 

The American’s 2019 Masters win ended an 11-year wait for a major and McIlroy is thankful to have the three-time Champion Golfer in his corner – even if he accidentally blanked him.

“I changed my number two days after the US Open, so I didn't get Tiger’s text until he told me about it today,” McIlroy said. 

“I was like, oh, thanks very much. So, I blanked Tiger Woods, which is probably not a good thing!

“Tiger has been nothing but incredible to me over the course of my career in the good moments and the bad. He sent me an incredible message after St Andrews in 2022.

“I met Tiger when I was 15 years old, and I've built up a great relationship with him, his whole family. He really enjoys spending time with my mum and dad as well.

“It means a lot. It means a lot that he reached out. Actually, it means a lot that he waited a few days to reach out, which if he hadn't have waited that long, I probably would have got it.

“I caught up with him earlier. It's always nice when your hero and the guy that you had on your bedroom wall is reaching out and offering words of encouragement.”

McIlroy was out for first practice round early on Tuesday morning, and was quick to re-discover Royal Troon’s unique charms.

The Championship course is a tale of two nines, with the wind direction determining which is difficult and which is gettable, and McIlroy – who was tied fifth in 2016 here – quickly fell back into the groove.

“You feel like you have to make your score on the way out and then sort of hang on coming in,” he said.

“I am looking forward to the week. The course is in great shape. Obviously we've got an amazing field, as these major championships produce now. 

“My game's in really good shape. I've got much better over the years to adapting and hitting the shots that are required on links courses in blustery conditions, and I've prided myself on that. 

“My record in The Open over the last few years has been very, very good.”