GOLF/ BRITISH OPEN:A YEAR older and wiser, and with an even fatter bank balance, Rory McIlroy – curly locks still sneaking out from under his cap – has arrived at the 150th British Open over the Old Course here with the same expectations. From himself, and from others.

Yet, the 21-year-old Ulsterman has rejected any insinuation that he has put too much pressure on himself to deliver a major title sooner rather than later.

“I’m not putting myself under pressure to perform, I’m just confident. I’ve played well on this golf course before, and I feel as if I’m hitting it well coming in,” said McIlroy, ranked ninth in the world.

Given his record over the venerable links, he is widely viewed as the biggest threat to bookies’ favourite Tiger Woods for this championship.

McIlroy, who has never shot a round higher than 69 on the course in tournament play, either as an amateur or a professional, also hopes to use Graeme McDowell’s US Open win as an inspiration in his quest to join him in the major club.

“Seeing G-Mac win, it just feels like it is the right time to go out and play well and win one of these big events.

“I haven’t played great in the first two majors of the year, so it would be nice to make up for it and go close this week.”

He added: “Just to see Graeme win gave me a lot of confidence – just to know winning a major wasn’t as far away as I thought it was. I had sort of viewed winning majors as this sort of higher level, and it made me realise that it wasn’t. You just need to play well in the right week and (have) a few things go your way.”

In backing up his theory that he has the game to win on this links, McIlroy pointed to the most recent winners.

“John Daly in ’95, Tiger the last couple of years (in 2000 and 2005), they’re guys renowned for hitting it long and being quite aggressive.

“Hopefully that will play into my hands.”

McIlroy’s positive attitude comes in a season where he has enjoyed a roller-coaster ride, from winning a breakthrough tournament on the US Tour at the Quail Hollow Championship with a final-round 62 to two missed cuts in the previous two majors.

Compare this to a year ago, when he arrived at Turnberry on the back of a 20th place finish at the US Masters and a top-10 at the US Open.

So, why such a gung-ho attitude about his prospects this time after failing to survive the weekend in either Augusta or Pebble Beach?

“I’ve played well around the golf course before, which gives me a lot of confidence.

“But I suppose it also brings a little bit of added pressure knowing that I’m expecting myself to play well, and I’m sure a lot of people are expecting me to play well.

“But I have great memories of this place, and hopefully they can stand me this week.”

In fact, McIlroy altered his preparations for a major by deciding not to play in Loch Lomond last weekend and, instead, took a two-day reconnaissance trip here last Friday and Saturday.

“Basically, since the JP McManus Pro-Am, I’ve just been playing links golf,” he said.

Since he returned home to Hollywood on Saturday, McIlroy has played Royal Portrush and Royal County Down a number of times, including one round with his father, Gerry, on Monday, when they teed off at 5pm.

“There’s a lot of shots around there that I’ll probably need this week,” he said.

McIlroy’s decision to stay at home to prepare for the early days of the week were, he claimed, an attempt to cocoon himself from the atmosphere in St Andrews until closer to the championship.

“I wasn’t in any mad rush to get here. I mean, you can get swallowed up with the whole occasion because it is St Andrews and it is the Open, especially it being the 150th anniversary. I’m just trying to stay as low-profile as possible, if that’s going to be possible.”

For his part, McDowell, believes his fellow Northern Irishman can follow his example.

“Rory’s a very experienced young man for a 21-year-old golfer. I don’t think there’s any risk he will get over-excited.

“It’s great to see the sort of inspiration that me winning at Pebble Beach can bring . . . I really think Rory has a great chance this week.

“He’s got a pretty mature head on young shoulders, and he’s got the game to do it.”