Rory McIlroy says he’s getting to the stage in his career where he feels that he deserves to win a major ahead of the 152nd Open at Royal Troon.
Rory McIlroy: A Decade of Anticipation Culminates in a Burning Desire for Major Victory
Rory McIlroy is nearing a pivotal moment in his illustrious career. As he approaches the 152nd Open Championship, Rory McIlroy says he’s getting to the stage in his career where he feels that he deserves to win a major ahead of the 152nd Open at Royal Troon. openly admits that he feels deserving of a major championship win. This candid confession was made during an interview with Ewan Murray of the Guardian.
It has been exactly ten years since McIlroy last tasted victory in a major tournament. His most recent close call was at the U.S. Open last month, where he narrowly missed ending his decade-long drought. Many observers have deemed this near miss as the most excruciating defeat of his 17-year career. However, McIlroy himself maintains that the disappointments of his 2011 Masters meltdown and his loss to Cameron Smith at the 2022 Open Championship at St. Andrews were far more harrowing.
In his conversation with the Guardian, McIlroy reflected on his journey and his evolving mindset. “I have always said I don’t deserve anything from golf, but after St Andrews, LA Country Club [2023 US Open], and Pinehurst, I am finally getting to the point where I feel like I deserve something,” he stated. He was quick to clarify, though, that feeling deserving does not guarantee success. “That doesn’t mean to say I’ll get it. I always felt if you say you deserve something, it reeks of entitlement. Nobody is entitled to anything in this game or life in general. You have to earn everything. But I feel like I am in a great position to go and earn it.”
With a blend of humility and determination, McIlroy is set to face the challenges ahead. Scheduled to speak to reporters at 2pm BST on Tuesday, he arrived at Royal Troon in high spirits after a three-week break and a solid performance at the Scottish Open, where he finished just four strokes behind Robert MacIntyre. During his time at The Renaissance Club, McIlroy shared insights into his evolving approach to the game. He revealed that despite his successes, he has struggled to truly enjoy them. Moving forward, he aims to liberate himself from the pressures of the profession and find joy in the game once more.
“At this point, I would rather lose through trying to win it than lose it through trying not to lose,” he said, underscoring a newfound assertiveness that he hopes will serve him well in the biggest tournaments.
As the 152nd Open Championship kicks off on Thursday, the golfing world watches with bated breath. Will this be the tournament where McIlroy finally claims his much-anticipated major victory? Only time will tell.
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