McIlroy 'knows' he'll handle major pressure better

Rory McIlroy is confident he will handle the pressure of trying to capture an elusive fifth major championship "a little bit better" if he finds himself in contention to win the Open at Royal Troon on Sunday.

McIlroy has recorded 21 top-10 finishes in golf's four biggest events since winning the last of his four major titles at the 2014 USPGA Championship.

His most recent disappointment came at last month's US Open, where the 35-year-old bogeyed three of his last four holes to allow Bryson DeChambeau to snatch a dramatic one-shot victory at Pinehurst.

McIlroy, who last week revealed he spent some downtime in Manhattan in order to get over his Pinehurst pain, has also had close calls at the Open since lifting the Claret Jug in 2014, finishing tied second behind Francesco Molinari in 2018 and third at St Andrews in 2022 having led by two with eight holes to play.

"I'll only know the impact [of Pinehurst] if I get myself in a similar position on Sunday," the world number two told BBC Sport Northern Ireland.

"I played 68 really good holes of golf at Pinehurst and just let it slip away at the end.

"Hopefully I get myself in that position again, and if I do, I know I'll handle it a little bit better."

McIlroy marked his competitive return by finishing tied fourth in his defence of the Scottish Open last week.

He tied for fifth when the Open was last held at Royal Troon on Scotland's Ayrshire coast in 2016, albeit 16 shots behind that year's champion Henrik Stenson.

McIlroy enjoyed a relaxed build-up to Thursday's opening round by playing a Tuesday morning practice round with fellow Northern Irishmen Darren Clarke - the 2011 champion - and Tom McKibbin, who is making his debut in golf's oldest championship.

"It's nice to come out here and get some preparation in but have it in a relaxed atmosphere and in good company where it doesn't feel like there's much pressure," said McIlroy.

The Holywood native, who has six top-five finishes in 14 Open starts, added: "It's the most important tournament in our game so to get my name on that jug for the second time would be phenomenal, especially after all the close calls I've had over the last couple of years.

"[I] can't think about that too much. I just have to go out there and play my game and if I play the way I've been playing I'll hopefully have a chance on Sunday."

McKibbin, meanwhile, is continuing his steady progress in the professional ranks having secured his place at Troon in bittersweet fashion by losing to Germany's Marcel Siem in a play-off for last month's Italian Open.

The 21-year-old, who finished a respectable tied 41st on his US Open debut last month, says he is wary of putting too much pressure on himself this week.

"[I'll] go out, play my game and at the end of it assess where I'm at against these great guys," said McKibbin, who joked that Clarke had been giving him a "hard time" about not being in the field before he qualified.

"I don't want to put too much pressure on myself by saying I want to do this and that but just go out, commit to all my shots and have a good week."

As for Clarke, who finished tied second at Troon in 1997, the 55-year-old says he is confident the future holds major championship wins for both McIlroy and McKibbin.

"He [McIlroy]'s got more coming and if he [McKibbin] listens to Rors, he'll have his name on some trophies as well. And I'll be happily sitting with a drink in my hand watching them both on TV!"