RORY'S OUT TO BEAT TEEN DREAM

Irish hero Mcllroy is confident of making a charge

- By Andy Dunn

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

McIlroy said: “I was saying to Tim Barter on Sky that it was 20 years ago I played the North of Ireland event here.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd be coming back as a Grand Slam champion with the support of a nation behind me, trying to win an Open.”

What McIlroy did not mention was that, during the 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. Fast forward to 2025 and he could do with another one of those over the weekend.