Rory McIlroy looks to end majors drought at Open Championship - ESPN

HOYLAKE, England — As Rory McIlroy finished playing 14 holes during a practice round with Shane Lowry on Tuesday morning, the rain started to fall at Royal Liverpool Golf Club again.

McIlroy, the No. 2-ranked player in the world, was asked if playing the course brought back fond memories of the last time he played at Royal Liverpool, when he won the 2014 Open Championship. He captured his fourth major championship a month later at the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.

«A little bit, not maybe as much as you would think,» McIlroy said. «You know, over the past nine years, a lot has happened in my life and I've played a lot of golf tournaments. But, yeah, there's a few things I remember and it's nice to get back onto the golf course and sort of refamiliarize myself with it.»

Much has transpired in McIlroy's life during his nearly nine-year drought without a major championship. He became a husband and father. He won 19 more tournaments around the world. He became a three-time Tour Championship winner. He has been the face of the PGA Tour during its two-year battle with the LIV Golf League for the best players in the world.

McIlroy just hasn't won another major championship. He comes into the Open Championship this week with the belief that he's as close as ever to ending the frustrating drought, especially after winning last week's Scottish Open.

«The results would suggest so, but, I mean, I've just got to go out and play golf,» McIlroy said. «Since 2014, I've won everything else there is to win in the game, apart from a major championship, so I know I'm good.»

McIlroy, 34, has come agonizingly close to ending the drought during the past eight-plus seasons. He finished runner-up in three majors