McIlroy will contest The Open at childhood course Royal Portrush, but is keen to emphasise the wider context of a major being played in Northern Ireland
When Rory McIlroy says he is treating this like any other Open Championship it is not really clear who he thinks he is kidding. Maybe he is more worried about persuading himself than he is anyone else, that it is his way of coping with all the emotional pressure he feels about playing here, in what he has repeatedly described as one of the most important tournaments of his life. Every major matters, but this one matters more than most, for him, and for his country.
McIlroy lives in Florida, but he still calls Northern Ireland home and he has an interesting, informed perspective on how significant this Championship is. “Sport has an unbelievable ability to bring people together,” he said. “We all know that this country sometimes needs that. This has the ability to do that.
Written by Andy Bull at Royal Portrush
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jul/17/rory-mcilroy-honour-privilege-open-golf-championship-royal-portrush under the title “Rory McIlroy keeps focus on bigger picture before Open homecoming”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
