Rory McIlroy entered Royal Portrush with the load of a nation on his shoulders, and whereas the Northern Eire native was unable to chase down the No. 1 golfer on this planet Sunday at dwelling, he nonetheless concluded the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush with a way of redemption and delight. McIlroy finished T7 on The Open leaderboard, seven photographs behind Scottie Scheffler, the brand new Champion Golfer of the Yr.
“[My emotions are] much more optimistic than they had been six years in the past. I am actually happy with my week,” McIlroy stated. “I want I had been nearer to Scottie going into right now and with the ability to make an actual push, however he is been on a unique stage all week, and he is been on a unique stage for the final two years to the remainder of us. He’s the bar that we’re all attempting to get to at this level, so hat’s off to him. He is an unbelievable participant, and unimaginable champion and an incredible individual, too. None of us might stay with what he had this week.”
McIlroy shot a 2-under 69 within the closing spherical to complete the event 10 below again from Scheffler’s 17-under complete of 267. Whereas it was not the storybook end that Rory and his adoring followers in Northern Eire hoped to see, it was every week he’ll always remember, and it actually stung lower than it will have in any other case had he not accomplished the profession grand slam by profitable the Masters earlier this yr.
Whereas Saturday 66 will stand close to the highest of McIlroy’s all-time record of rounds he’ll keep in mind, the large efficiency nonetheless left him six photographs behind Scheffler coming into Sunday. There was faint hope of a McIlroy comeback, however that was shortly snuffed out by Scheffler, who shot 2 below on the entrance 9 Sunday regardless of carding a double bogey.
The recipe for a McIlroy miracle was to duplicate his third spherical begin when he was 3 below via 4. Scheffler was the one which started on a heater, although, and Rory was by no means capable of catch up not to mention surpass the No. 1 golfer on this planet.
McIlroy hit some wayward iron photographs and couldn’t create the early surge of power he wanted to provide even a touch of nerves within the penultimate pairing. He went out in 2 below, making three birdies and a bogey on the entrance 9, which might be a strong begin most Sundays. While you’re attempting to chase down a person whose identify is shortly being positioned within the annals of historical past, it is merely not sufficient.
Proper as Scheffler cracked the door open barely with that double bogey on No. 8 — bringing the Ulsterman with 5 photographs of the lead — McIlroy posted a double of his personal on the tenth. That stumble was the tip of McIlroy’s probabilities at a win, however he bounced again with two extra birdies to provide the house crowd a number of extra probabilities to roar and chant his identify.
As McIlroy strode up the green to the 18th inexperienced, the tens of hundreds readily available gave him a hero’s welcome. It appeared all week like your complete nation of Northern Eire was strolling the course, dozens deep on both aspect of the ropes. On the 18th, they appropriately greeted him with raucous applause.
McIlroy spoke after his third spherical about appreciating the second extra this time round after falling aside on the primary gap and lacking the reduce the final time Royal Portrush hosted The Open in 2019.
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Buoyed by his Masters victory, which alleviated the strain he carried throughout a decade-long drought between main wins, he was capable of benefit from the second. McIlroy echoed that sentiment his closing spherical, noting that whereas he was unable shut the hole on Scheffler, his stroll up the 18th will persist with him eternally.
“For me to be in entrance of everybody right here at dwelling — and to get that reception on the final [hole] — completely unimaginable,” McIlroy stated. “I will keep in mind that for a very long time.”
Sunday was the end result of that celebration, and whereas it did not end with McIlroy hoisting the Claret Jug, it nonetheless supplied redemption for the heartbreak of 2019 when he missed the reduce by one. His dwelling crowd capitalized on the chance to indicate their appreciation for the Northern Irish child who made good, and McIlroy did not miss the possibility to return the kindness.
“There’s loads of gratitude and loads of delight that I am from the shores and, partially with the best way I’ve performed, advocated for this little nation,” McIlroy stated. “The Open’s returned right here, and it has been an incredible venue, and hopefully the R&A hold coming again.”
After McIlroy holed his par putt on the 18th and shook fingers with enjoying accomplice Matt Fitzpatrick, the remainder of the group cleared the inexperienced, permitting Rory to have his second. With a hand within the air, McIlroy turned and waved to his adoring nation, providing honest appreciation for the week-long help whereas soaking in his final nice probability to win a significant championship in his dwelling nation.