It’s funny how one unforgettable shot—one swing, one misjudged trajectory—can stick with you for years.
And for me, it all started on a cold, damp Thursday morning at Royal Portrush six years ago.
It wasn’t my first Open, and definitely not the worst weather I’d endured, but what unfolded that day has lingered in my mind ever since.
There we were, crammed like sardines at the first hole, the local hero about to tee off.
The crowd was buzzing, and expectations were sky-high. What no one expected was for his ball to go hurtling left—so far left it ended up smashing a poor woman’s phone.
That moment, as wild as it was, set the tone for what became a painful unraveling for Rory McIlroy.
When Expectations Meet Reality at Portrush
He was the 8-1 favourite and playing on home soil.
The cheer that met his introduction felt like a scene from a Hollywood film. But that excitement quickly turned into disbelief.
His first shot was a pull, not the draw he wanted, and his desperate cry for the ball to “sit” went ignored.
That stray ball ended its journey against a bystander’s phone. Her name, age, and hometown were online within hours.
But things only got worse. His second attempt was yanked into deep rough, and after battling through brambles and penalties, he left the first hole with an eight—a quadruple bogey.
By the end of his round, he’d carded a 79.
Just like that, the dream of a glorious homecoming at the 148th Open was over. He missed the cut, and Northern Ireland’s fairytale start ended in silence.
Returning to the Scene of the Calamity
Now, as the Open Championship returns to Royal Portrush for its 153rd edition, all eyes are on McIlroy again.
It’s impossible not to think back to 2019. I can’t help but believe he might win it this time—a belief that’s become something of a habit over the years.
Expectations have always followed Rory.
From the moment a camera crew caught him chipping into a washing machine as a child in Holywood, to the heartbreak at Augusta in 2011, and the major wins that followed soon after—he’s never been just a golfer.
He’s been a story in motion, with fans forever asking: What’s next?
The Augusta Breakthrough… and the Questions That Followed
His win at the Masters in April should’ve been the exclamation point in his career.
That Sunday at Augusta National was unforgettable, and so was the cheeky line he delivered to reporters afterward: “So what are we going to talk about next year?”
Turns out, we’ve had plenty to talk about. The past three months have been anything but a smooth ride to the next major.
Sluggish performances, mood swings, skipped media duties, club tosses, and even one smashed tee box—it’s been messy, human, and oddly telling.
For someone who just climbed his personal Everest, he’s seemed… adrift.
The Burden of Being Rory
McIlroy’s long-time psychologist, Dr. Bob Rotella, predicted this post-Masters pressure.
When I spoke to him before Augusta, he told me that even if Rory won, people would instantly wonder if he could go on to win the next major—or all four in one season.
He was right. We move the goalposts constantly.
Even Rotella found himself swept up in the hype, admitting after Augusta, “We’re all excited to see what comes next.”
But what followed wasn’t a continuation of greatness—it was a confusing stretch of underperformance and visible frustration.
18 Years of Pressure and Counting
The weight McIlroy has carried is unmatched in British sport.
Maybe Lewis Hamilton comes close, though people often blame the car during his down years. Andy Murray faced his own mountain at Wimbledon, but injuries at least gave him temporary reprieves.
McIlroy? The noise has never stopped.
Since turning pro 18 years ago, he’s barely spent any time outside the world’s top 20 rankings.
Just 92 weeks out of it—and not once since 2009. That’s elite consistency. And yet, even with a green jacket in hand, the whispers haven’t gone quiet.
The Paradox of Greatness
That’s the strange thing about Rory. Winning the Masters should’ve bee
n his moment of peace. Proof that he was everything we believed he could be. Instead, it only raised the stakes. Expectations became even heavier. But maybe—just maybe—that’s what he needs.
One person close to him at the Scottish Open recently joked that there’s always someone “p***ing him off.” Whether it’s media, critics, or a rival’s rise, McIlroy thrives on friction.
He’s kind, respectful, and available to us in the media—but there’s a spark he finds in small irritations. It keeps the engine running.
Fuel and Fire: The Role of Pressure
If that theory holds, then expectations aren’t just a burden—they’re his fuel.
They provoke, challenge, and, in a strange way, comfort him. They offer the drive he needs to compete after nearly two decades on tour.
He might hit another wayward tee shot on Thursday. He could break another phone.
He might even finish dead last. But none of that would change the fact that this is the year he finally conquered Augusta. The irony? He probably doesn’t see it that way.
Crystal Palace Fans Deserve Better Answers
While McIlroy battles expectations, Crystal Palace fans are facing their own kind of injustice.
UEFA’s decision to block the club from the Europa League—while other clubs bend the rules around multi-club ownership—is frustrating, to say the least.
Their outrage is valid. But it’s also fair to ask why those running Palace didn’t see the same loopholes others have exploited.
These tricks weren’t exactly hidden, and the consequences are now painfully clear.
A Strange Move from Arsenal?
And speaking of baffling decisions, Arsenal’s interest in Noni Madueke raises eyebrows. Yes, he’s talented.
But with just 13 league goals and five assists in 67 Chelsea appearances—and whispers about his discipline—he’s hardly a sure bet.
Even more puzzling is that Arsenal already have Bukayo Saka, who occupies Madueke’s preferred position.
Yet reports suggest Arsenal are willing to spend over £50 million on him. It’s one of those transfer moves that makes you go: really?
What Comes Next?
So, what are we going to talk about next week? Whether Rory conquers Portrush or suffers another heartbreak, the conversation will roll on.
The expectations won’t go away—and maybe, for Rory McIlroy, they never should.