The Open: McIlroy hoping to cradle Claret Jug once again

McIlroy made his Open debut the last time Carnoustie hosted the event in 2007, the fresh-faced, curly-haired 18-year-old going on to win the silver medal as leading amateur.

He ended the week behind the 18th green as a makeshift babysitter for Padraig Harrington’s son Patrick, torn between hoping for an Irish winner or a first major title for one of his favourite players growing up, Spain’s Sergio Garcia.

Eleven years on, McIlroy tees off at Carnoustie today hoping to end a major drought which is closing in rapidly on four years, thereby setting up a defence of the title in his native Northern Ireland next year when the Open returns to Royal Portrush for the first time since 1951.

“It’s great to be back,” said McIlroy. “It doesn’t seem like 11 years ago that The Open was here last. I hadn’t even turned pro yet and didn’t know what to expect or the journey that I was about to embark on.

“So to be back and be in a different position, to be talked about as one of the guys that could win, and to already have a Claret Jug is very nice, but obviously I want to add to my collection.

“It would be nice to win at Carnoustie, where I was able to pick up a silver medal a few years ago.

“I’ve had a decent career up until this point and I’ve got a lot of time left to add to my major tally. It’s hard to win any week on Tour, let alone the four big ones that we get a year.

“I was on a nice run there (in majors) from 2011 to 2014. I haven’t won one since, but I’m trying. I’m trying my best every time I tee it up and it just hasn’t happened. I’ll give it a good go this week. And if I were to head to Portrush with a Claret Jug in my possession, I’d obviously be very happy and be very proud to be the defending champion at a golf course that I know very well and playing in front of home fans.

“Geez, if it all worked out like that this week, I’d be one very happy man heading out of here.”

Just who will lift the Claret Jog come Sunday is anyone’s guess.

Fittingly it was Padraig Harrington who best summed up the challenge in trying to identify this week’s winner.

“I’m not sure if this is going to be the toughest Open ever or the easiest Open,” said Harrington, who won back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2008.

The reason for Harrington’s dilemma is the unusual state of the course, which is playing so hard and fast that the three-time major winner drove into the Barry Burn in front of the 18th green in practice – and he was far from alone in reporting prestigious feats of distance.

That brings bunkers which may not usually be in play into the equation and as world No 2 Justin Thomas admitted, the bunkers at Carnoustie are “truly a water hazard. You can never hit it on the green from them”.

However, the greens themselves have been watered and are currently receptive, leading to the possibility – as at Gullane for last week’s Scottish Open – of a host of low scores, highlighted by Brandon Stone’s closing round of 60 which gave the South African a place in the Carnoustie field.

It all seemingly adds up to a choice between a conservative strategy and a more attacking approach, with the likes of McIlroy and Jon Rahm taking their chances off the tee in the knowledge that the heatwave has also burned off some of the usually thick rough.

“I guess the risk of hitting driver on a few holes is not having full control of your golf ball if it does run into the rough,” added McIlroy. “The golf course is playing so firm and fast there’s some guys that will see it completely different than the way I see it.”

McIlroy leads a home charge that includes Justin Rose, a rejuvenated Paul Casey, bright young things like Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrell Hatton and Scotland’s Russell Knox, and the Yorkshire duo of Danny Willett and Matt Fitzpatrick. They are all seeking to end the American dominance of the last five majors.

Jordan Spieth’s last victory was his triumph at Birkdale 12 months ago, but the likes of world No 1 Dustin Johnson, Masters champion Patrick Reed and double US Open winner Brooks Koepka are part of a strong American challenge that includes Tiger Woods, at his first Open since 2015.

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