McIlroy Comeback at The Open: Spectacle and Final Challenge!

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland – Rory McIlroy, supported by thousands of Northern Irish fans present at Royal Portrush, strived to the maximum to get back into contention on Saturday. He achieved birdies on three of the first four holes, signing a round of 66 strokes. This placed him in a tie for fourth place, six strokes behind leader Scottie Scheffler, heading into Sunday.

“It was incredible. I had a lot of fun,” McIlroy commented. “An absolute pleasure to play in front of my home crowd, my fans, and yes, obviously I gave it my best. I feel like I’ve at least given myself a chance tomorrow.”

Rory McIlroyMcIlroy’s round was one of the most unique in recent times. He started the day seven strokes behind Scheffler, but quickly closed the gap. He made a birdie from 36 feet on the first hole, a short birdie on the second par 5 hole, and another birdie from 7 feet on the fourth. “It was a dream start,” McIlroy said. The excitement surrounding McIlroy was palpable throughout the course, with the galleries chanting his name and following each of his shots. However, after a blazing start, McIlroy stalled, making five consecutive pars to finish his first round.

“Not making birdie [on holes 5 and 7] was a little disappointing,” he added.

Rory McIlroy

In the second round, his game took a different turn. He made bogey on the 11th hole after an approach shot he described as one of the “strangest” moments he’s had. When McIlroy was about to hit his ball from the rough, another ball appeared from below. A bewildered McIlroy picked it up and burst out laughing. He couldn’t believe it.

“My ball came off very strangely, as if it was going to shoot off,” he explained. “And I looked at my ball, and I could see it spinning into the wind. Obviously, I had no idea there was a ball near mine.”

Rory McIlroyThe missed shot on the 11th hole was quickly erased. On the 12th hole, a par 5, McIlroy faced an improbable 56-foot putt for eagle from the back of the green. As the ball slowly dropped into the hole after a long wait, McIlroy celebrated with a fist pump and what seemed to be all of Northern Ireland roared.

“The roar when the ball went in was crazy. It was crazy all day, but the noise after that putt went in was incredible,” McIlroy said. “That was a really cool moment… it might be one of the coolest moments I’ve had on a golf course.”

Rory McIlroy

The eagle seemed to give McIlroy a boost. He added another impressive birdie, this time from the rough, on the 15th hole after his approach hit the flag. After a crucial up-and-down on the long par-3 16th hole, McIlroy’s tee shot on the 17th went into the galleries, where a fan picked up the ball. Once he replaced the ball, McIlroy was able to par the 17th and finish with another par on the 18th to finish at 8 under par. That mark is still six strokes behind Scheffler, who shot 67 strokes and increased his lead to four strokes heading into Sunday.

“There doesn’t seem to be any weakness there,” McIlroy said about Scheffler. “When you’re trying to chase a guy like that, it’s difficult.”

Rory McIlroy

On the final day at Royal Portrush, McIlroy will try to do the seemingly impossible: catch up with the best player in the world and beat him. He won’t be alone.

“If I can go out tomorrow and have a similar start to today, and get the crowd involved,” McIlroy said, “you never know.”

Rory McIlroy