That pacesetting effort 12 years ago came despite a missed tiddler at the 17th, then the weather gods turned on the leader. And in the 2010 Open at St Andrews, he spectacularly demonstrated his comfort on this track with an opening round of 63. He was third in the 2007 Dunhill Links Championship when still a European Tour maiden, then finished second in the event three times after that. St Andrews is a venue which McIlroy fell in love with from the off. There is an all-round solidity about McIlroy coming into this Open which will understandably excite him and his army of fans. The stroke looks so much better and he lies eighth in the PGA Tour putting stats. McIlroy showcased his improved wedge-play in that Canada coup, and his putting has improved enormously with guidance from Brad Faxon. Victory in the CJ Cup soon followed, then 2022 Major form of 2-8-5, as well as a thrilling Canadian Open success a month ago - his 21st PGA Tour title. It is testament to how consistently he has performed since dropping to 16th in August last year. It is significant that McIlroy has moved second in the world rankings. Three more Major triumphs would put McIlroy level with Arnold Palmer and others as the seventh-most prolific Major champion in history - and that target seems well within the world number two's compass. There is still plenty of time for this little master to establish himself as one of the all-time greats, though, and a St Andrews success can kickstart that process. Of course, McIlroy has got stuck on four and had his 33rd birthday in May - a married father who doubtless accepts he will fail to realise his full potential. Predictions for career McIlroy Major wins at that point were generally in the high teens. The free-flowing Northern Irishman won his fourth Major by the age of 25 and only Nicklaus and Woods had achieved that feat before. Rory McIlroy always seemed destined to be the man to catch up with Woods on the list of Major victories. Speculation persists that Tiger Woods may use St Andrews as his sayonara - waving goodbye on the Swilcan Bridge and admitting injuries have finally defeated him - and it would be fitting if another 'generational' talent used this week to get back to Major-winning ways. Expect a class act to be holding the Claret Jug aloft on Sunday. Louis Oosthuizen (2010) is the only St Andrews Open winner since 1964 (nine events) who had not already won a Major. This famous strip of golfing land on the east coast of Fife seems to bring out the best in the legends of the game. Then Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros and Nick Faldo followed suit, before Tiger Woods provided a pair of golfing clinics in 20. In the distant past, Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Peter Thomson and Bobby Locke enjoyed Open glory on this hallowed turf.
The cream traditionally rises to the top of the leaderboard when the Open comes to St Andrews. T&Cs apply 18+ Īnticipation for the 150th Open Championship has reached fever pitch - Major golf returns to the Home of Golf for the first time in seven years - and there is a feeling in the air that this week's St Andrews showpiece could be a modern classic.
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