The Open Championship: Power ranking the top 10 for Carnoustie

CARNOUSTIE, SCOTLAND - APRIL 24: A view of The Claret Jug for The Open Championship media day at Carnoustie Golf Links on April 24, 2018 in Carnoustie, Scotland. The 147th Open Championship will take place at Carnoustie between 19th-22nd July 2018 (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /

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CARNOUSTIE, SCOTLAND – OCTOBER 02: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his second shot to the second hole during the first round of the 2014 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at the Championship Links at Carnoustie on October 2, 2014 in Carnoustie, Scotland. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images) /

Rory McIlroy hit the scene in 2007 as a baby-faced 18-year-old. He took low-amateur honors with a T42, and the rest in his career is history.

He’s played well at Carnoustie over the years continuing with five top-10s at the Dunhill Links. Three are runner-up finishes. He’s 8-for-8 in cuts here between the Links and Open.

McIlroy’s had an up-and-down season with a win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and two runner-up finishes on the European Tour. He’s missed just four cuts worldwide and has finished in the top 30 in nine of 16 events.

McIlroy is 11th this season on the PGA Tour in strokes gained off the tee, 19th in strokes gained around the green and 36th in strokes gained on approach. He’s also 35th in sand saves, which could be useful navigating Carnoustie’s dastardly bunkers.

At the Open, McIlroy won in 2014 at Royal Liverpool and has finished inside the top-five the last two years as well as in 2010. He’s made eight cuts in nine Open starts.

It’s hard to tell these days what we’re going to see week in and week out from Rory, but the old knock that he can’t play links golf has clearly been dispelled.

Talent-wise, McIlroy continues to be part of the cream of the crop. If you think it’s his week, roll with Rory on a course he knows as well as any in the field.

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