Rory McIlroy is on the brink (again) on Open Championship eve

GULLANE, Scotland — Well, this may be becoming, wouldn’t it?

A day earlier than Rory McIlroy returns to Royal Liverpool as the presumptive Open Championship favourite, he’ll enter Sunday at the Scottish Open as the 54-hole chief. For what appears like the umpteenth time this season (and what our data inform us is really the third time), he’ll maintain the lead heading into the ultimate spherical of an occasion, a victory firmly inside the realm of chance — and the ensuing Open Championship hype practice following not far behind.

Of course, it could be solely becoming for McIlroy to land his first win of the PGA Tour season right here at the Scottish. He has performed a few of the greatest golf of anybody alive over the final month and has a collection of heartbreaks and no wins to indicate for it.

His recreation is rounding again into kind and, he says, it’s simpler for him to “find it” now than at any level in current reminiscence. He additionally hasn’t gained since a victory in Dubai in January, which marks a shocking chilly streak for a golfer of McIlroy’s potential and observe file.

It would even be becoming for him to bag that first win of the season hours earlier than he’ll face the full burden of expectation in Hoylake. He is already the presumptive betting favourite heading into the week — the product of each that current observe file and his first Open win in 2014 additionally coming at Royal Liverpool.

McIlroy will already be the most talked-about identify on-site in the wake of [gestures vaguely at the state of professional golf]. Now it’s solely attainable he’ll do these issues whereas additionally having claimed his newest victory lower than a day earlier than his arrival. Considering the means his final 18 months (and, to some extent, 9 years) have gone, that a lot wouldn’t be shocking.

Damned for those who do, damned for those who don’t.

It’s simply as seemingly that McIlroy (-13) gained’t win on Sunday. He leads by only one heading into the ultimate spherical at the Renaissance Club, and the leaderboard behind him is stacked. Tom Kim is one again. Tommy Fleetwood is two again. Shane Lowry is three again. Max Homa is 4 again.

The excellent news, for those who’re Rory, is that issues are purported to get exhausting tomorrow. Winds upward of 40 mph are in the forecast, together with regular rain. For the second consecutive day, the DP World Tour has moved up tee occasions with a purpose to accommodate the climate. But that’s about the finish of the excellent news for those who’re Rory. Is it attainable the factor you need most is additionally the worst factor for you?

“Again, I can’t even predict what a good score is going to be because we haven’t seen the conditions yet,” he stated. “But I’d say anything in the red numbers tomorrow is going to be a hell of a score.”

There’s an actual likelihood that Rory is combating the discipline at the Scottish Open, however on Saturday night time in Gullane, it certain appears like he’s combating the inevitable.

“I remember my first Scottish Open at Loch Lomond in 2005,” he stated Saturday. “Eighteen years is too long for me to pick up a trophy.”

James Colgan

Golf.com Editor

James Colgan is a information and options editor at GOLF, writing tales for the web site and journal. He manages the Hot Mic, GOLF’s media vertical, and makes use of his on-camera expertise throughout the model’s platforms. Prior to becoming a member of GOLF, James graduated from Syracuse University, throughout which era he was a caddie scholarship recipient (and astute looper) on Long Island, the place he is from. He may be reached at james.colgan@golf.com.