Rory McIlroy on eve of The Open: “I feel like I deserve something”
Rory McIlroy has expressed that he is reaching a point in his career where he feels deserving of a major championship win. In an interview with The Guardian’s Ewan Murray ahead of the 152nd Open Championship, McIlroy reflected on his journey and the challenges he has faced since his last major victory, which was a…
Rory McIlroy has expressed that he is reaching a point in his career where he feels deserving of a major championship win. In an interview with The Guardian’s Ewan Murray ahead of the 152nd Open Championship, McIlroy reflected on his journey and the challenges he has faced since his last major victory, which was a decade ago.
The Ulsterman came agonizingly close to ending his drought at last month’s U.S. Open. Observers considered it one of the toughest defeats in his 17-year career. However, McIlroy quickly overcame the disappointment, stating that his haunting Masters meltdown in 2011 and losing to Cameron Smith at the 2022 Open Championship at St. Andrews were far more difficult.
“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,” McIlroy told The Guardian. “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.”
McIlroy is scheduled to speak to reporters at 2 p.m. BST on Tuesday ahead of The Open. He arrived at Royal Troon in good spirits after a three-week break, having returned to the game at the Scottish Open. During his outing at The Renaissance Club, where he finished four strokes behind Robert MacIntyre, McIlroy admitted that he has never truly enjoyed his success.
Looking forward, McIlroy is adopting a new approach. “At this point, I would rather lose through trying to win it than lose it through trying not to lose,” he said. “I haven’t been as assertive over the past couple of years in the biggest tournaments.” Time will tell how this new mindset will impact his performance.
The 152nd Open Championship kicks off on Thursday, and McIlroy’s fans will be eagerly watching to see if this fresh perspective helps him secure the major win he feels he deserves.
