Rory McIlroy faces grim return as rival who helped ruin his Open dream gets red hot

Rory McIlroy will have more than just the psychological aftermath of his US Open disappointment to grapple with as he prepares for The Open Championship next month. The 35-year-old is currently on a break from golf following a dramatic finish at Pinehurst, where he missed two crucial short putts in the final three holes, allowing Bryson DeChambeau to clinch the title.

McIlroy’s quest for his first major victory since 2014 continues, with the Royal Troon offering his next opportunity to end this long wait. The 152nd Open Championship will be held on the famous links course from July 18-21, with American Brian Harman returning as the defending champion.

Two years ago at St Andrews, McIlroy led going into the final day but was surpassed by Cameron Smith, who delivered a stellar final round. Adding to McIlroy’s frustration, Cameron Young eagled the final hole, pushing McIlroy down to a third-place finish.

McIlroy’s current challenges are underscored by another remarkable performance by an American golfer. At the Travelers Championship at Pinehurst on Saturday, 27-year-old Young electrified the crowd with an impressive 11-under 59. This feat, which included two eagles and seven birdies, marked the first sub-60 score on the PGA Tour in nearly four years and placed Young among just 13 men to have achieved it.

Young’s performance left him five shots behind overnight leader Tom Kim, setting the stage for an exciting finish. Although Young birdied the first four holes of his final round, bringing his total to 15-under-par in just 22 holes, he couldn’t maintain the momentum and finished tied for ninth at 17-under-par, five strokes behind Kim and Scottie Scheffler. In a dramatic play-off, Scheffler emerged victorious after four extra holes. Nevertheless, Young’s Saturday performance has signaled his readiness to challenge at Royal Troon.

This latest development will certainly catch McIlroy’s attention as he prepares for his shot at finally securing his fifth major title. He will arrive in Scotland as the world No.2, trailing only Masters champion Scheffler.

Before The Open Championship, McIlroy is expected to return to competition to defend his title at the Genesis Scottish Open, which starts on July 11 and serves as an ideal prelude to The Open.