McIlroy flirts with nightmare of 2019 but recovers to keep his dream of a home victory intact

He waits, driving iron in hand, as one minute becomes three, then five. Enough time for the moment to grow even bigger. And for memories to flicker spitefully back to life.

- Sean Ingle |

Finally the call comes. "This is game number 46. On the tee from Northern Ireland, Rory McIlroy."

There is a nod of acknowledgement. A few encouraging cries of "Goo-wan Rory". But mostly the vast crowd is silent, nervous, mumbling its prayers.

They know. He knows. Even if what happened the last time McIlroy stood here, on the opening day of the 2019 Open, is a subject to tiptoe around. The angsty swipe of a two-iron. The ball hurtling towards the out-of-bounds. The six cries of 'sit, sit!' The quadruple bogey eight.

As in 2019, there is a right-to-left wind off the 1st tee, and out-of-bounds on the left and right. It looks eerily familiar. But McIlroy stays in the present.

He looks up four times before the club is finally swung and the ball hit. But, as he picks up his tee, takes massive gulps of relief.

It is not a great shot, in truth. It's left and in the shrubbery. But it is safe. And on a 420-yard hole that has already taken 25 bogeys, four double bogeys, and a seven by the time McIlroy tees off at 3.10pm, that is a result.