GOLF: RORY McILROY'S delayed arrival here was like a trick an old-time Hollywood starlet would pull, if for different reasons. In the 22-year-old Ulsterman's case, it was to stay away from the hype until absolutely necessary. And on the evidence of a press conference complete with flashing bulbs and a live transmission on ESPN, embracing the fame game in his own, low-key way was clearly the prudent move.
This 140th edition of the British Open, golf’s oldest and most illustrious Major, marks McIlroy’s competitive reappearance for the first time since his conquest of the US Open at Congressional, which catapulted him into the role of a global superstar. In the interim, McIlroy could hardly be accused of hiding away: he has attended a world heavyweight title bout and appeared in the royal box at Wimbledon.
Now, though, he is back as the centre of the golfing universe.
In the world vacated – for the moment at least – by Tiger Woods, McIlroy has become a global asset with an appeal and an allure that transcends international borders. Everyone wants a part of him.
“I didn’t realise how much of a fuss it would create, or how much of a buzz,” said McIlroy, who surprised many of his fellow pros by his decision to arrive late.
“The support I’ve had from people at home, from everyone all over the world, has been pretty overwhelming, (but) it’s a nice feeling to have that support walking onto the golf course.”
In fact, McIlroy stuck to a formula similar to the one he adopted at St Andrews last year, where he led after the first round and eventually finished third. He opted not to play in last week’s Scottish Open and instead paid a two-day visit here to prepare away from the madding crowds. He then fine-tuned on Monday night with a nine-hole run around Royal County Down with his father, Gerry, when he carried his clubs.
“I’ve got back into my own routine, been practising a lot,” said McIlroy.
“I feel as if my preparation has been really good coming in here. It was nice to relax and take it all in after the US Open, but I knew that the time for reflection wasn’t really at this point of the season, it’s at the end. I’ve got to forget what happened three weeks ago (at Congressional) and just come in here and try to win another golf tournament.”
Except this is no ordinary tournament. It is the third Major of the season and, if cards had fallen a different way, McIlroy could conceivably be here as a winner of both previous titles.
Of course, his collapse at Augusta, where he carried a four-stroke lead into the final round of the Masters before capitulating, put paid to that.
Of his past close calls and eventual elevation to a Major champion, McIlroy remarked: “I learned a lot from the Open last year at St Andrews, shooting that great first round and then not handling the weather too well on the second day. And I had a really good chance going into the PGA (at Whistling Straits) into the last round to win there. I was tied for the lead with four holes to go. And, then, the Masters, leading going into the last.
“It’s been a gradual process and I’ve learnt every time, and it’s maybe taken me three or four times to put all the pieces together. Now, I feel like I’ve basically learnt most of the lessons that I needed to learn to get me over the line, especially in a Major championship, and I feel as if I’ll be able to go on and contend a lot more.”
It was pointed out to him that two punters in Britain have put bets of £20,000 on him to win here (he is the hot favourite with bookies with odds of around 7 to 1), and he was asked if this was “the act of very shrewd punters or of desperate men”.
“I will go with the former,” he replied.
So, there is a pep in the step that comes with being a Major champion.
Of the effect of his US Open win, McIlroy said: “If anything, it just gives me more confidence, knowing that I can do it. When I step onto the first tee of a Major, I’ll know that I’ve done this before so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t do it again.
“If I can bottle the mentality I had at the US Open going into every tournament, I’d be very happy.”
Replicating the golf he exhibited at the US Open is a different proposition, however. As he admitted, “I don’t think I will be able to play that sort of golf every week, I hope I do, but I can’t see it.
“Yeah, expectations are going to be high. I have high expectations myself. I want to go out there and try to win a lot of golf tournaments and win Majors and become the best player in the world. All I need to do is focus on my game and, if I can do that, I know my good golf is good enough to win plenty more tournaments.”
