Rory McIlroy (-8) has done his part of the job at Royal Portrush. He needed something big this Saturday and he delivered. He carded a 66, the second-best of the day after Russell Henley (65), and has placed himself in the penultimate group for Sunday at the Open Championship. His only problem is called Scottie Scheffler (-14). The World Number One only shot one more than Rory and will start with a six-shot lead. It’s tough, but at least there’s a chance. Or half a chance, as McIlroy himself acknowledged after the third round, paying tribute to Scheffler’s prowess.
Whatever happens, whether he wins this Open or not, McIlroy will never forget what happened today at Portrush. It has probably been one of the best days of golf in his career. The atmosphere on the course was incredible. Rory was carried along by an army of over ten thousand Northern Irish souls who gave their all cheering on their neighbour, accompanied by exceptional weather, good temperature, clear skies, no wind, and a light that only exists on the links. In his match (poor Jordan Smith who played with him, 72 strokes), there were sometimes up to 30 rows of spectators beyond the ropes. They couldn’t see anything, but they could shout.
Rory contributed a lot with a stellar start. Three birdies in the first four holes. Dreamlike. His first success came with a very long putt with a crazy right-to-left curve that went right in the middle on the 1st hole. That’s where the madness began. The ‘Rory Army’ didn’t need much to start believing, but their general gave them the necessary reasons very early.
The fans were an active part of McIlroy’s comeback. Of course, with their cheers, signs, laughter, shouts, and excitement. “It was electrifying,” said the golfer, who struggled to find the words to describe what he had experienced. And also physically. Rory’s three worst shots of the day were saved by luck… and by the crowd. Three very errant balls on holes 7, 11, and 17 ended up in the area where the fans were. They could have ended up swallowed by a bush or directly lost, but fate, destiny, Saint Patrick, or whatever it was, made them rest gently in an area perfectly trodden and flattened by his people. By those who were giving their all.
The stellar moment came on the 12th hole, a par 5. Rory holed an eagle putt from over 16 metres. Royal Portrush erupted. “It’s the loudest roar I’ve ever heard on a golf course,” the player assured. Indeed, the noise was heard all the way to Buckingham Palace. The beautiful ground of dunes and cliffs trembled, and from the youngest to the oldest realised that the feat was possible. Another birdie fell on the 15th. More cheers, more excitement. And Rory, enjoying himself, letting go, fist-bumping, looking the crowd in the eyes, making them part of his (attempted) feat.
McIlroy is not throwing in the towel. He’s not naive and knows it’s very difficult. “Scottie is the best player in the world consistently in recent years and it’s going to be very tough, but I’m going to try. What I like most is that I’m going to enjoy another day of golf in front of all these people, I’m going to give my best, I’ll try to start strong, like today, and maybe, if Scottie starts hearing the noise and all… who knows. I have half a chance and just that makes me happy for the atmosphere we’re going to experience on Sunday.”
What a battle awaits us.
