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- British Open: Will Rory McIlroy ever be comfortable being a living legend?</p>
<p>Jay HartJuly 14, 2025 at 11:09 PM</p>
<p>In the lineage of golf courses, Royal Portrush isn't in the same stratosphere as St. Andrews or Augusta National or Pebble Beach. But to Rory McIlroy, it's special.</p>
<p>McIlroy grew up just outside of Belfast, Northern Ireland, an hour south of Royal Portrush, which in 1951 became the first (and still only) course in all of Ireland to host The Open, which Europeans consider the grandest golf tournament in all the world. McIlroy played there as a kid, even set the course record — a stout 61 which he shot at the ripe old age of 16.</p>
<p>By the time Portrush got its next turn to host The Open in 2019, McIlroy was a 30-year-old golfing legend — a four-time major winner who the locals pinned all their hopes on to hoist the Claret Jug for all of Ireland. Instead, McIlroy fell flat on his face, missing the cut — not even making it to the weekend.</p>
<p>This week, The Open returns to Royal Portrush, and though it's been six years, some things for Rory McIlroy remain the same.</p>
<p>"I just think that that feeling, the walk to the first tee and then that ovation, I was still a little surprised and a little taken aback, like geez, these people really want me to win," McIlroy recalled Monday. "I think that brought its own sort of pressure and more internally from myself and not really wanting to let people down. I guess it's just something I didn't mentally prepare for that day or that week. But I learned pretty quickly that one of my challenges, especially in a week like this, is controlling myself and controlling that battle."</p>
<p>Controlling the internal battle — it's been the struggle of Rory McIlroy for more than a decade.</p>
<p>It all came so easy at first, at least it looked that way, winning four majors by the age of 25. But then, of course, came the troubles — the 10 years of close calls and flameouts and victories everywhere around the world except for at the four majors. He always had the talent to win anytime, anywhere, but the mental part ... that was the struggle.</p>
<p>Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland signs autographs after a practice round at Royal Portrush Golf Club. (Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images) (Ramsey Cardy via Getty Images)</p>
<p>When he finally got major No. 5, the Masters win in April that ended his decade-plus quest to complete the career grand slam and ripped the monkey off his back, well, the mental challenges — the pressure he'd put on himself and the pressure that had come from everywhere — was gone ... except that it wasn't. He'd flame out at both majors since, chirp at the media (when he did talk), toss his clubs and appear generally disgruntled despite seemingly having it all.</p>
<p>"Is it?" he said Monday when a reporter asked if the pressure is off him now that he has the green jacket in his closet. "Is the pressure off?"</p>
<p>It's pretty apparent it's not and it's not going to be, maybe not ever for Rory McIlroy. The goalposts will forever move — new challenges presented and expectations leveled, both from within and without. This week it's to win in his home country, and in a couple months at the Ryder Cup it will be to win for his home continent. And then next year at Augusta, to win it again, rinse and repeat.</p>
<p>This is the first-world problem he's signed up for by becoming one of the best golfer's the planet has ever produced. The question, as it has been for the last decade and will be for the next however many years he continues to play at an elite level, won't be if his game is where it should be, but if his head is.</p>
<p>"I think in '19 I probably tried to isolate, and I think it's better for everyone if I embrace it," he said Monday, in a moment of introspection. "I think it's better for me because I can — it's nice to be able to accept adulation, even though I struggle with it at times."</p>
<p>Yes, the struggle is real, even for a living legend like Rory McIlroy. It's just all of Ireland that is hoping he can handle it this weekend.</p>
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