Rory McIlroy ditches sleep for some early Open practice - ESPN

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Twelve hours after Rory McIlroy wrapped up a second-place finish at the Scottish Open near Edinburgh, the five-time major winner walked up to the first tee at Royal Portrush around 7 a.m. local time, on four hours of sleep, and began his first practice round in advance of this year's Open Championship.

Fans were still trickling onto the grounds and no other player was within sight as McIlroy plotted his way around a golf course where he still owns the course record — a 61 when he was just 16 years old. By the time he made the turn on the back nine, the crowd had grown and was filled with people looking to witness McIlroy's return home, this time as a Grand Slam champion.

«The fact that I'm here at Portrush with the green jacket, having completed that lifelong dream, I want to do my best this week to enjoy everything that comes my way and enjoy the reaction of the fans and enjoy being in front of them and playing in front of them,» said McIlroy. «But at the same time, I want to win this golf tournament, and I feel like I'm very capable of doing that.»

The last time the Open Championship came to Portrush in 2019, McIlroy said he was unprepared for what kind of emotional experience it would be. After getting an ovation on the first tee, McIlroy hit his tee shot out of bounds and made an 8. He would go on to miss the cut. This week, McIlroy says, he is taking a slightly different approach.

«I think in '19, I probably tried to isolate,» said McIlroy. «And I think it's better for everyone if I embrace it.»

On Monday, after striking a 3-iron off the 18th tee, hitting his approach on the green and sinking in a birdie putt that elicited a decent-sized cheer from the gallery, McIlroy spent ample time