British Open 2019: Power ranking the top ten golfers at Royal Portrush

PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - APRIL 2: The Claret Jug is pictured at Royal Portrush Golf Club during a media event on April 2, 2019 in Portrush, Northern Ireland. The Open Championship returns to Royal Portrush for the first time since 1951 this summer between 18-21 of July. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - APRIL 2: The Claret Jug is pictured at Royal Portrush Golf Club during a media event on April 2, 2019 in Portrush, Northern Ireland. The Open Championship returns to Royal Portrush for the first time since 1951 this summer between 18-21 of July. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) /
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PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND – JUNE 28: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits his tee shot on the 14th hole during Day One of the 2012 Irish Open held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on June 28, 2012 in Portrush, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND – JUNE 28: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits his tee shot on the 14th hole during Day One of the 2012 Irish Open held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on June 28, 2012 in Portrush, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) /

A lot of eyeballs are on Rory McIlroy. He joins Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell in playing on home soil in Northern Ireland.

Before he was a four-time major champion, McIlroy set Royal Portrush’s course record of 61 when he was 16.

In 2012, McIlroy finished T-10 at the Irish Open at this same venue.

He’s trying to treat this year’s British Open like the rest despite Northern Ireland hosting for the first time in over a half-century.

"“Honestly, I think it’s going to feel normal,” McIlroy said after the Scottish Open. “It’s going to feel like just another British Open. I’ve played in a few of them now. I know what to expect. Might be a little louder. Atmosphere might be a bit different but the objective is the same, to go there and play good golf and hopefully give myself a chance to win the Claret Jug.”"

McIlroy finished T34 last week at the Scottish Open in his first links test in a while.

Over on the PGA Tour, McIlroy could be a Player of the Year candidate if he were to win this week and play well in the playoffs. He won the Players Championship and Canadian Open and has 11 top-10s 13 Tour starts.

That’s incredible.

In the majors, Rory was T-21 at the Masters, T-8 at the PGA Championship and T-9 at the U.S. Open. He should be well-rested as Scotland was his only start after the U.S. Open four weeks ago.

McIlroy ranks first in total strokes gained by a wide margin and is first off the tee and tee to green. It’s all about his wedges and putter.

He’s 21st in SG around the green and 40th in SG putting, which are good marks. It’s all about if he can hold up under the gun and put together four good rounds. The propensity to waste good drives and approaches have driven some of McIlroy’s backers nutty.

Fortunately, his precision with his irons should be able to have him in the right spots on and around the greens.

So often has McIlroy had to come from behind since his last major win in 2014. He’s a dominating figure when frontrunning and will be really scary if he can start off in the 60s on Thursday.