Rory's Roar: McIlroy Gives Northern Ireland Hope on Moving Day

"Absolutely incredible out there. The atmosphere has been electric all day," McIlroy said, emotion cracking his voice. "An absolute pleasure to play in front of my home crowd."

You don't get many shots like this.

The 2019 redemption story writes itself. Last time The Open visited Portrush, McIlroy missed the cut after opening with 79, including a quadruple-bogey on one hole. The pressure crushed him before he started. This time he's embracing the moment instead of drowning in it.

His golf has been vintage McIlroy. Solid driving, sharp irons, clutch putting when needed. That eagle putt on No. 12 was momentum-shifting magic — the kind that transforms tournaments and careers.

Reality check: McIlroy trails Scheffler by six shots. That demands near-perfection.

"It's going to be tough to catch him tomorrow if he keeps playing the way he does," McIlroy said. Refreshing honesty that underscores Scheffler's dominance.

History works against him. McIlroy has never won a major when trailing after 54 holes. All four victories came leading or tied heading into Sunday. Breaking that pattern requires great golf from him and uncharacteristic struggles from Scheffler.

But Saturday's McIlroy carried himself differently. The crowd believes. Every shot Sunday will ride waves of support that can lift players beyond their limits.

Sunday's plan: fast start, engage the crowd early, hope the noise rattles the unflappable Scheffler.

"If I can get off to a similar start to what I did today, get the crowd going, hopefully he feels that a couple groups behind me," McIlroy said.
Long shot? Absolutely. But if collective will can bend golf's physics, Royal Portrush is that place. McIlroy has given Northern Ireland hope.

Sometimes hope makes the impossible feel inevitable.