{"id":231179,"date":"2022-07-17T08:08:45","date_gmt":"2022-07-17T08:08:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/golftoday.co.uk\/open-championship-2022-can-rorys-story-end-in-glory\/"},"modified":"2023-04-25T07:47:00","modified_gmt":"2023-04-25T07:47:00","slug":"open-championship-2022-can-rorys-story-end-in-glory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/golftoday.co.uk\/open-championship-2022-can-rorys-story-end-in-glory\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Rory’s story end in glory?"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n\r\n\r\n
\"Open\r\n
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Viktor Hovland of Norway shake hands following their round (Stuart Kerr\/R&A\/R&A via Getty Images)<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Estimated reading time: <\/span>8<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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St. Andrews, Scotland.<\/em><\/strong> In near total darkness in August 2014 Rory McIlroy capped a superb summer of world class golf capturing the final two majors of that year — the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool and the PGA Championship at Valhalla.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The swift ascension up the golfing ladder had him match what only Jack Nicklaus and his idol Tiger Woods had done — win four majors by the age of 25. The sky appeared limitless for McIlroy and many even opined he had the wherewithal to be on a Woods trajectory of greatness.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Fast forward nearly eight years and the major championship total for McIlroy remains fixed on the number four. The Ulsterman is hoping that dubious streak will end Sunday during the final round of the 150th<\/sup>\u00a0Open Championship.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Rory is tied after 54 holes with Viktor Hovland and the two were paired for the third\u00a0round, each finishing the day in 66 strokes. Neither man blinked — both determined to remain in the thick of things. Both wanting to hear the magic words that conclude an Open — the “champion golfer of the year is …”<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The expectations for McIlroy were sky high when claiming his second PGA Championship in 2014. He has finished in the top ten 16 times in the various majors since — including the first three majors this year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

***<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Tournament<\/strong><\/td>\r\n2007<\/strong><\/td>\r\n2008<\/strong><\/td>\r\n2009<\/strong><\/td>\r\n2010<\/strong><\/td>\r\n2011<\/strong><\/td>\r\n2012<\/strong><\/td>\r\n2013<\/strong><\/td>\r\n2014<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Masters Tournament<\/strong><\/td>\r\n\u00a0<\/td>\r\n\u00a0<\/td>\r\nT20<\/td>\r\nCUT<\/td>\r\nT15<\/td>\r\nT40<\/td>\r\nT25<\/td>\r\nT8<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
U.S. Open<\/strong><\/td>\r\n\u00a0<\/td>\r\n\u00a0<\/td>\r\nT10<\/td>\r\nCUT<\/td>\r\n1<\/td>\r\nCUT<\/td>\r\nT41<\/td>\r\nT23<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
The Open Championship<\/strong><\/td>\r\nT42*<\/td>\r\n\u00a0<\/td>\r\nT47<\/td>\r\nT3<\/td>\r\nT25<\/td>\r\nT60<\/td>\r\nCUT<\/td>\r\n1<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
PGA Championship<\/strong><\/td>\r\n\u00a0<\/td>\r\n\u00a0<\/td>\r\nT3<\/td>\r\nT3<\/td>\r\nT64<\/td>\r\n1<\/td>\r\nT8<\/td>\r\n1<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

*Low Amateur<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u00a0<\/td>\r\n2015<\/strong><\/td>\r\n2016<\/strong><\/td>\r\n2017<\/strong><\/td>\r\n2018<\/strong><\/td>\r\n2019<\/strong><\/td>\r\n2020<\/strong><\/td>\r\n2021<\/strong><\/td>\r\n2022<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Masters Tournament<\/strong><\/td>\r\n4<\/td>\r\nT10<\/td>\r\nT7<\/td>\r\nT5<\/td>\r\nT21<\/td>\r\nT5<\/td>\r\nCUT<\/td>\r\n2<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
U.S. Open<\/strong><\/td>\r\nT9<\/td>\r\nCUT<\/td>\r\nCUT<\/td>\r\nCUT<\/td>\r\nT9<\/td>\r\nT8<\/td>\r\nT7<\/td>\r\nT5<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
The Open Championship<\/strong><\/td>\r\n\u00a0<\/td>\r\nT5<\/td>\r\nT4<\/td>\r\nT2<\/td>\r\nCUT<\/td>\r\n**<\/td>\r\nT46<\/td>\r\n\u00a0<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
PGA Championship<\/strong><\/td>\r\n17<\/td>\r\nCUT<\/td>\r\nT22<\/td>\r\nT50<\/td>\r\nT8<\/td>\r\nT33<\/td>\r\nT49<\/td>\r\n8<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

** The 2020 Open did not take place<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

No one needs to explain to the 33-year-old that performances in major championships are what sets the definition of greatness in golf. Legacies are clearly front and center.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The final round on the Old Course could well be the launching pad in climbing back to the top of the golf pecking order. The stakes on Sunday are that high — and no one knows that better than him. Rory is intent on focusing on the task ahead by concentrating and staying in the present moment.<\/p>\r\n

***<\/p>\r\n

“I just have to just stick to my game plan, stick to the process. The more people bring up the result, the more I’m just going to harp on about process and sticking to my game plan, because that’s the only thing I can do, and I’ve done that well for the last three days. And it’s put me in this position. I just need to do it for one more day,” said McIlroy.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\r\n

***<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The third round featured a hole out for eagle at the par-4 10th<\/sup>\u00a0and his lone bogey came at the treacherous Road Hole where he was most fortunate that his approach shot did not nestle too close to the stone wall. McIlroy ended the day with a closing birdie after a fine two putt from the front of the short par-4 closer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The gallery has been vocal in their support of McIlroy. They are aware of the talents Rory possesses and want to push him onto victory and a second Open title. But for him the key will be staying focused on what lies ahead for Sunday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

“The support that I’ve gotten this week has been absolutely incredible. I appreciate it and I feel it out there. But at the same time, I’m trying my hardest just to stay in my own little world because that’s the best way for me to get the best out of myself.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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Rory. McIlroy.#The150thOpen<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ZgVKfXf8ie<\/a><\/p>\r\n\u2014 The Open (@TheOpen) July 16, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>\r\n