In Portrush, Northern Ireland, under the bright Northern Irish sun, Rory McIlroy surveyed the scene from the 17th tee box at Royal Portrush, a prominent vantage point at The Open Championship.
To his left, a hillside teemed with spectators eager to witness his drive, while to his right, crowds pressed against the ropes for a closer view. McIlroy permitted himself a slight smile as he awaited his turn, moments before the chants erupted.
The air soon filled with the rhythmic shouts of `Rory! Rory! Rory!`
These vociferous cheers had resonated throughout the day, intensifying with each success: a birdie on the first hole, another on the second, and reaching a week-long peak when his approach shot on the par-4 fourth put him 3-under through four holes. The crescendo culminated eight holes later, at the 12th, when McIlroy`s remarkable 56-foot eagle putt found the cup. A triumphant fist pump followed, met by an explosive roar – the very moment everyone had anticipated.
McIlroy later described the moment: “The roar when this ball went in was absolutely incredible. The atmosphere was electrifying all day, but the noise after that putt was extraordinary. It was a truly remarkable moment, potentially one of the most memorable I`ve experienced on a golf course.”
Throughout the day, thousands of devoted fans, both local and international, appeared to buoy McIlroy from hole to hole. Regardless of whether he scored a birdie or a bogey, their fervent support never wavered, escalating into a powerful crescendo with his arrival at each green.
Everywhere, from the winding paths through the dunes and crosswalks to packed hillsides and gathering points, the sheer size of the crowd reaffirmed that McIlroy was, and had consistently been, the focal point of the week. Near the fourth fairway, a line of hotel staff gathered to observe his progress. Similarly, by the fifth green, spectators ascended from the adjacent beach to the summit of a dune, seeking a clearer view of the game.
When McIlroy finally teed off from the 17th, his ball landed near the gallery on the right. A fan, desperate for a tangible connection to their local hero, briefly picked up his ball. Surrounded by his throng of supporters, McIlroy replaced the ball, then skillfully executed a challenging approach shot over a greenside bunker, landing it securely on the green. As he advanced, the crowd, which had parted like the Red Sea for his passage, reconvened behind him, their cheers growing more fervent with each passing moment.
Again, the chant echoed: `Rory! Rory! Rory!`
Throughout Saturday, the aspiration of a local victory for both McIlroy and his supporters felt tangible. However, amidst these euphoric moments, golf`s most formidable presence quietly asserted itself.
That presence was Scottie Scheffler.
The 17th and 13th greens at Royal Portrush are adjacent, and as McIlroy focused on his birdie putt, Scheffler stood on the opposing rise. Predictably, Scheffler`s tee shot landed perfectly, pin high. While McIlroy had intermittently checked scoreboards to gauge his position, this encounter brought him face-to-face with the daunting challenge posed by his rival.
McIlroy conceded, “Scottie Scheffler is simply inevitable. Even when he isn`t at his absolute peak, he remains incredibly consistent and rarely makes errors.”
Scheffler secured a par on the 13th, then added another birdie on Calamity Corner, the notoriously difficult and lengthy par-3 16th hole that had troubled many competitors throughout the week. Yet, Scheffler conquered it, having birdied it on all three days.
McIlroy remarked, “He appears to have no discernible weaknesses. Attempting to close the gap on a player of his caliber is an immense challenge.”
Scheffler`s dominance isn`t merely stifling McIlroy`s ambitions. Matthew Fitzpatrick, who began the day just one shot behind, now trails by five heading into Sunday. Russell Henley`s impressive 65 on Saturday and Xander Schauffele`s 66 both leave them seven shots back, making their Sunday prospects appear slim.
Schauffele observed, “When I watch Scottie play, he seems entirely focused, simply executing his game. He`s in his own zone, impervious to distractions. He consistently achieves that mental state, which is incredibly beneficial for him.”
Harris English, also six strokes behind McIlroy, stated, “He`s unbelievable. I genuinely can`t find anything negative to say about him. His performance is captivating and truly exceptional.”
Even Haotong Li, who maintained his form with a round of 69, placing him four shots behind Scheffler and in Sunday`s final pairing, couldn`t help but recognize the significant lead.
Li conceded, “Being four shots behind, it feels like I`m playing for second place, especially when competing against the world No. 1.”
There`s an almost disquieting aspect to how Scheffler consistently downplays his own exceptional performances, even as fellow players readily acknowledge them. Even when confronted with undeniable evidence of his prowess – such as closing out nine consecutive 54-hole leads – Scheffler simply shrugs it off.
When asked about his remarkable ability to close out leads, Scheffler replied, “Your guess is as good as mine. I simply enjoy competing out here.”
Despite his earlier lamentations about the capricious nature of victory this week, Scheffler`s profound dedication to competition – whether he explicitly acknowledges it or not – has propelled him to a position where he is pursued by all, while he himself pursues history, the legends of golf`s past, and a comparison to Tiger Woods that steadily gains momentum. A win on Sunday would make Scheffler only the fourth player to secure The Open, the Masters, and the PGA Championship titles before reaching his 30th birthday, a feat last accomplished by Woods.
McIlroy and the other contenders must cling to the belief that they dictate their own fate on Sunday. Yet, in truth, their aspirations depend entirely on the performance of an individual who, by all accounts, consistently extinguishes the hopes of his rivals.
