Rory McIlroy flirts with 2019 Open nightmare but recovers to keep dream intact | The Open

He waits, driving iron by hand, as a minute becomes three, then five. Enough time for the moment to grow even more. And so that memories sparkle with wickedness.

Finally, the call arrives. “This is game number 46. On the Northern Ireland’s TEE, Rory McILroy.”

There is a sign of recognition. Some encouraging cries of “Goo-Wan Rory”. But most of the time, the vast crowd is silent, nervous, mumbling its prayers.

They know. He knows. Even if what happened the last time McILroy was held here, the day of the opening of the 2019 Open, is a subject of onft. The anxious shift of an iron to two. The ball rush to the limits. The six cries of “Sit, sit!” The Quadruple Bogey eight.

As in 2019, there is a wind from the right to the left of the 1st T-shirt and limits on the left and right. He looks strangely familiar. But McILroy remains in the present. He looked up four times before the club was ultimately swayed and the ball struck. But, while he picks up his t-shirt, takes massive sips of relief.

It is not a big blow, in truth. It is left and in shrubs. But that’s for sure. And on a hole of 420 yards which has already caused 25 bogeys, four double bogeys and one seven in time of McILroy at 3:10 pm, it is a result.

The second of Northern Irish is directed backwards of the green, leaving it difficult from top to 70 feet. The first putt is excellent. The second horrible. And McILroy walks away with a Bogey five.

However, on the right side. He already has three shots that he was not at this stage in 2019. What is happening on the 1st hole turns out to be a warning sign of what will follow in the next five hours and 51 minutes.

There are too many cowardly discs. Too many hooks and cries from front on the left. But McILroy is able to keep it together – with the help of a lucky rebound here and there – before finishing with a fulfillment.

And when he manufactures his last putt of the day, shortly after 9 p.m., he is able to sign for one by 70 under 70 which is nine shots better than his first round in 2019.

But it was often a hard slog, in front of an extremely demanding crowd. When McILroy and his game partners, Justin Thomas and Tommy Fleetwood, went to the 2nd part, the crowd was sometimes 10 deep in places.

Those who look at the 2nd hole saw a rehearsal of McILroy’s first shot, only this time that his journey went 40 meters from the Fairway. No wonder he looks deeply bored while heading for the ball. And even the Marshal not telling him “we understood” he was soothing his mood.

However, McILroy came out of thick things, then sent his third at 15 feet before sorting out. Suddenly, he smiled, chatting with Thomas, at the even level and looked good.

This also helped that the conditions were improved per minute. The morning deluge had given way to a sunny sky, the route was soft and receptive, the wind seemed to have died out to start.

And, when McILroy sank a 30 feet for Birdie in the 5th and another in the 7th and 10th, he was two under the peer and the scoring of the morning leaders of four under the view.

The problem was that its driver continued to behave badly. When another was lost in the 8th, he missed the six fairways. Finally, it was to catch up with Bogeys at 11, 12 and 14.

When the masters winner drives well, his game has an effortless flow. But when it is missed, it often becomes a shred genius, alternating between the delicate and the sublime.

But he was able to dig deep into the closing holes, with his approach on the 17th proving his shot of the day. Again, he had driven out the way he left. Only this time, he could not only see the stick flag, but was malicious. However, not only did he take it out, but a fortuitous rebound left him a 15 feet for Birdie.

When he did, you could hear the clubhouse acclaim. There was almost another birdie on the last one, but while it was passing, McILroy looked quite happy when he left the 18th.

He knows it was not a great day. But he is three blows behind the leaders and always a lot in hunting.