150th Open Championship: Is It Rory McIlroy’s Time To Shine Again?

With the whole world watching, is it finally time for Rory McIlroy to shine once again?

Who can forget the scenes in Canada just over one month ago when fans followed Rory McIlroy up the 18th fairway and watched on in jubilation as the beloved player secured his 21st PGA Tour title following an electrifying Sunday, 62.

Those fantastic scenes will fail in great comparison to what could potentially unfold on the famous Old Course at St. Andrews on Sunday should the Northern Irishman end a nearly eight-year-long Major drought.

Rory McIlroy hoisting the famed Claret Jug for a second time is the outcome that just about everyone wants to see unfold on Sunday. The four-time Major Champion has been in contention at some point during every Major in 2022 thus far.

A storming Sunday performance, en route to an eventual runner-up finish at Augusta, saw McIlroy soar up the leaderboard following a closing round 64, a round that was capped by an unbelievable bunker shot on the 18th that would find the bottom of the cup and send the patrons into a frenzy.

He would start fast at Southern Hills in May following a scintillating 65 during his opening round, a result that would see Rory McIlroy top of the leaderboard at the end of day one before struggles, particularly on Saturday, ended hopes of lifting the Wanamaker Trophy this year.

Rory McIlroy got off to another fast start at last month’s U.S. Open following rounds of 67, and 69, on Thursday and Friday. But once again, struggles on Saturday would prove costly and he was left with a second top 5 finish in a Major this year. It would be McIlroy’s third consecutive top 10 finish in a Major in 2022.

A different ending for Rory McIlroy this time?

It has been a long wait for arguably golf’s most talented player and there are very few, if any, who are able to match Rory McIlroy when he is at his very best.

2014 at Valhalla was the last time McIlroy was triumphant in a Major and very few would have been able to fathom back then that it would be nearly eight years and counting for Rory.

All of that can change on the famous Old Course at St. Andrews on Sunday evening though and there are signs indicating that might be exactly what’s in store.

Slow starts have plagued Rory since 2014, but not this week, McIlroy made his return to The Open at St. Andrews with an opening 66 out of the gates.

Sluggish Saturdays that have so often cost McIlroy dearly, are also a thing of the past this week after the Northern Irishman produced a spectacular third-round 66.

McIlroy has cleared two of the biggest hurdles this week which have so often been a bugaboo during his Major Championship drought. Now, Rory shares the lead with Viktor Hovland at the 150th Open Championship heading into the final round.

One last question remains unanswered, however, is it at long last finally time for Rory McIlroy to shine once again?.

It’s a thought that Rory is trying to block out with one final round left to be played.

“I just have to just stick to my game plan, stick to the process. The more people bring up the result, the more I’m just going to harp on about process and sticking to my game plan, because that’s the only thing I can do, and I’ve done that well for the last three days. And it’s put me in this position. I just need to do it for one more day,” he said following his third round at this year’s Open Championship.

One final hurdle stands between Rory McIlroy and the end of a drought that was once almost unimaginable. Sunday is a great opportunity for McIlroy to finally win a 5th Major Championship and it is one that he surely must take.

All questions will be answered soon enough.