Rory McIlroy, the world’s second-best golfer, was among the most notable names to falter at the 152nd Open held at the infamous Old Course in Royal Troon. Far from being a solitary casualty, he is joined by his arch-rival from the US Open at Pinehurst, Bryson DeChambeau, as well as rising stars, Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland.
Despite sky-high expectations, McIlroy found it impossible to make amends for his previous disappointing performance at Pinehurst. His chances to make the cut were severely diminished by a disastrous four-hole streak from the third to the sixth, in which he tallied a bogey followed by a triple bogey and then another pair of bogeys.
The Northern Irish golfer recalled the incident, saying, “By the time I’d racked up an eight on the fourth hole, I was already contemplating my vacation plans for next week.”
Despite not making the cut at Royal Troon, McIlroy will be offering his support to Shane Lowry over the weekend.
McIlroy’s performance summarised in his attempt to twirl his club on his return journey, a move that unintentionally struck his chin. The empathetic applause from the spectators at the 18th grandstands marked another year where McIlroy failed to secure another Major for his portfolio.
For McIlroy, the repercussions of the windy conditions were more palpable than for others. Following a brief vacation, he’ll be gearing up for the forthcoming Paris Olympics.
McIlroy often feels like he repeats himself every Open Championship, stating it’s not like they only participate in four tournaments a year. In reality, they compete in around 25, so there’s still ample opportunity to prove themselves, he says. Even though the Majors are finished, there’s still much to prepare for, like the imminent Olympics, which promises to be another exhilarating experience. Another thing on McIlroy’s list, he’s preparing to contend on both sides of the Atlantic to win the [order of merit] titles.
Before the Olympics, McIlroy will take some time off, after just missing out on the bronze medal in Tokyo, he plans to view the Open Championship on TV, rooting for Lowry to walk away with another championship win.
McIlroy talks with admiration about Lowry’s creativity and his unique playing style, especially his impressive squeezy cut. Lowry thrives in the conditions of the Open Championship, and it’s a tournament he feels particularly enthusiastic about. McIlroy can’t wait to support him and hopes Lowry achieves his second win.
As for McIlroy himself, he’ll be biding his time for the next big opportunity, looking towards the Masters coming up next April, a whole ten years since his last victory.