McIlroy, though, has pledged to go with the flow, embrace the celebratory atmosphere that will surround Irish golf this week and has insisted this is a tournament bigger than himself. “That can go one of two ways, right?” McIlroy retorted when asked if there was a danger of being sucked into the festival vibe. “But at the same time, I mightn’t get an opportunity to play an Open Championship here again. The two-time Irish Open champion shot 64-62 on the weekend at Lahinch two weeks ago to regain the title he first won down the road from here at Portstewart. It is time the Spaniard transferred that skillset to an Open setting.

Source: Irish Examiner July 18, 2019 04:30 UTC