LATE CHARGE IS RORY TO A TEE

Mcllroy needs to turn back the clock & repeat his teenage rampage

- BY ANDY DUNN at Royal Portrush @andydunnmirror

AFTER his second round of the 153rd Open, Rory Mcllroy was again recalling his visit to Royal Portrush two decades ago.

He told us: “I was saying on Sky that it was 20 years ago that I played the North of Ireland here, and never in my wildest dreams did I think that I'd be coming back as a grand slam champion with the support of a nation behind me, trying to win an Open Championship.”

What McIlroy did not mention was that, during that North of Ireland Championship, he shot, as a 16-year-old, a round of 61 that is still spoken about in wondrous tones in the clubhouse of this storied course.

Fast forward to 2025 and how McIlroy could do with another one of those over the weekend.