Rory McIlroy believes that he is far more mentally prepared for the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush than he was for the 2019 running of the event at the same venue.
Feeling all the pressure of being the returning local hero six years ago, McIlroy shot an eight-over 79 on the first day so that even a second-round 65 could not prevent him missing the cut by a stroke.
However, since then he has completed the fabled career Grand Slam, claiming victory at the Masters in April, and he feels that the gruelling final day at Augusta has given him the tools to deal with he pressure he will face at Portrush.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport, he said: " If someone had to told me at the start of this year, you'd be going back to Portrush with your game in good form, with a chance to win the Open, and by the way, you've got a green jacket with you too? Yeah, I would've taken that.
"It’s amazing to be back. It really doesn't feel like six years ago that we were here. It's amazing that Portrush and Northern Ireland have this opportunity so soon after the last Open here.
"Personally, and selfishly for me, I'm happy that it's back so soon because I want to have another crack at it.
"I didn't have the week that I wanted back in 2019, but I feel like I'm a way better player and way better equipped to handle everything that this week throws at me, from a golfing perspective and from a mental and emotional perspective as well.
"The two places I'd love to win an Open more than anywhere else are here and St Andrews. They're the two venues for me that are probably more important than the rest.
"No other round of golf will feel as difficult as the one I felt in that last day at Augusta, so everything should feel a little bit easier than that."
"I've come here feeling really good about where my game is at"
McIlroy has spoken recently of struggling for motivation after completing the career Grand Slam and his results in the immediate aftermath of the win at Augusta were not what he would have expected.
However, he has enjoyed an upturn in form over the last few weeks and is again playing the kind of golf that fans have come to expect from him.
"I'm excited and I’ve found that enthusiasm again," he said. "I don’t know if it’s the good golf that's making me enthused again, or if my enthusiasm that's making the good golf. It's a little bit of the chicken and the egg.
"I had a good week at the Travelers (Championship) finishing sixth, and then I had a good week last week, with a chance to win in Scotland. So I couldn't be coming in here feeling better about my game.
"I did all the right things last week. I feel like my game progressed as the rounds went on in Scotland and I've come here feeling really good about where my game is at."
