Confident McIlroy aims to revive memories of 2016 glory

There's a plaque in the 16th fairway at the K Club in Straffan which marks one of the greatest shots ever hit in an Irish Open.

Context is everything when it comes to assessing blows of such calibre and in that case, the destination of the 2016 title was on the line for an Irishman in the final round of his national championship in front of a gallery which had grown into their thousands.

"For as long as I can remember, since I was a child, the only tournament my mum ever wanted to see was the Irish Open," Rory McIlroy said this week.

For that moment though, he kept thoughts of personal consequence, good or bad, out of his mind and in the cool May air he put one of the swings of his life in motion with a near 250-yard carry onto the only island on the River Liffey where the 16th green was perched at an angle to deflect any imperfect strike into the water.

His execution of the shot though, was close to perfection. In total, the ball travelled almost the entire 273 yards to the flag and McIlroy two-putted for a birdie while the man he was trailing by one stroke, Russell Knox, almost in shock, three-putted for bogey. It was the pivotal moment.

Throwback Thursday | Rory McIlroy roars to a stunning victory in the K Club back in 2016.