ST. ANDREWS (Scotland) – Rory McIlroy dreamed. It was impossible for him to resist. He could see the enormous yellow scoreboard, which stood tall above St. Andrews final hole, from his hotel room window. He saw his name in black block letters, which he had thought of many times when he was a child. It was a day before his dream became a reality. After a 66, McIlroy’s name was in the top spot Saturday night. This tied him with Viktor Hovland for The Open’s lead. McIlroy spoke about his “cocoon”, the place where his process could be freed from all the pressure. He allowed himself to see out of his hotel room window and imagine the greatest victory of his life. McIlroy stated, “You have to dream.” McIlroy said, “You have to think about it and imagine it. But once you were on the course it was just task at-hand and trying to play as good golf as possible.” McIlroy was McIlroy’s equal over 54 holes of the 150th Open. Both shot 16-under 200. They also shared 66s Saturday’s second to last group, which earned them Sunday’s final tee time. They finished four ahead of Cameron Smith and Cameron Young, who were in third place. McIlroy was not the only one who hoped to win in the Home of Golf. It was too obvious that Great Britain’s great hope in the spiritual center of the game would win. He had not played at the Old Course for 12 years and was eight years away from his last major victory. McIlroy, the greatest player his generation and one of the most respected Europeans, had been through close calls in majors this year. He finished in the top 10 of each of the three first rounds. As he was about to start his second round on Friday, McIlroy met Tiger Woods, and it was likely that Woods’ time at St. Andrews came to an end. Woods was touched when McIlroy tipped his cap in respect while they walked by each other. Woods’ last Open victory at St. Andrews was a double win. This could have been the beginning of the first St. Andrews win for the best player since Woods. McIlroy wanted to be with Woods, Jack Nicklaus, and Europe’s best players of today, Nick Faldo, and Seve Ballesteros by winning at The Old Course. This course has extra significance. McIlroy, who is considered the most contextual in golf today, would have tied Ballesteros’ record of five major victories. At this stage in his career, his legacy is his top priority. Only a victory at Augusta National could do more to help him. The sentimental favorite, Jordan Spieth, didn’t win at St. Andrews. McIlroy made only two birdies, but was unbogey-free on Sunday. Cameron Smith was two strokes ahead of McIlroy’s 70. Smith birdied five of the nine back holes and finished with 30 to earn a Sunday 64. Cameron Young, a rookie on the Tour, finished second after shooting 65. McIlroy was leading for most of the day, but Smith won 14. McIlroy was unable to make par on the last holes. McIlroy stated, “I knew I had to respond.” McIlroy said, “I couldn’t find any shots or putts to do this.” It was a relatively stress-free day. McIlroy drove the car well, didn’t make any bogeys, but he couldn’t hit his approach shots accurately enough or take advantage on the Old Course’s par-4s. McIlroy finished in the top 10 for the first time in his professional career in all four majors. With two wins this season, he’s currently third in the world ranking. He’s fifth in the FedExCup rankings. This week, he spoke about his trust in his game and the freedom that it has brought. While Harry Diamond, his caddie, was at home with their newborn child and wife, Michael Bannon, his long-time swing coach, he won the RBC Canadian Open last month. He had to take more control of his game and less on his looper. He said, “I have more control over my swing and my game.” McIlroy said he left the U.S Open last month saying he was “closer to my swing and my game”. But McIlroy had trouble trusting his readings on St. Andrews slow greens on Sunday and saw several birdie putsts slip by the hole. McIlroy missed two St. Andrews par-4s that are drivable, the Nos. 9 and 12. 9, 12 and 14th, respectively. Smith would have been tied for the lead if McIlroy had made a birdie. McIlroy missed long birdie puts on 15 and 16 and also missed a 20-footer at the 17th, after Smith had two-putted behind the Road Bunker. McIlroy had to make an eagle on 18 after Smith’s birdie at the last hole. His second shot was too far from the hole and it was over. He said, “There were many putts today that I couldn’t trust myself to make it in the hole.” “I started it either on the edge or outside, thinking it would move. They just kind of stayed there. McIlroy focused his post-round press conference on the positives and tried to put the result in proper perspective. “It’s neither life or death,” McIlroy said. But the scene that followed McIlroy’s departure from the microphone gave a more complete picture. McIlroy was escorted by a golf cart to his locker room. Erica, his wife, sat next to him and he leaned his head on her shoulder. He didn’t have any more energy. The fight was over. For those who have a deep love for the game, The Old Course is a beautiful setting. There are many emotions that can be evoked by a round on historic grounds. Even heartbreak.
By: Sean Martin
Title: Rory McIlroy’s dream dashed in St. Andrews heartbreak
Sourced From: www.pgatour.com/news/2022/07/17/rory-mcilroy-heartbreak-dream-the-open-championship-st-andrews-cameron-smith.html
Published Date: Sun, 17 Jul 2022 12:00:00 -0400
Leave a Reply