Under the bright Northern Irish sun, Rory McIlroy stood atop the 17th tee box at Royal Portrush, a vantage point offering a panoramic view of The Open Championship course. He paused to absorb the electrifying atmosphere.
Crowds thronged the hillside to his left, eager for a sight of his impending shot, while on his right, spectators pressed against the ropes, striving for proximity. A slight smile touched McIlroy`s lips as he prepared, and then the chants erupted.
The rhythmic cheer of `Rory! Rory! Rory!` echoed across the course.
These vociferous cheers had been a constant presence throughout the day – beginning with his opening birdie, intensifying with a second birdie on the second hole, and reaching a peak for the week when his approach shot on the par-4 fourth put him three under par. The crescendo came eight holes later, at the 12th, as McIlroy sank an astonishing 56-foot eagle putt. A celebratory fist pump and an explosion of sound confirmed it: this was the instant the crowd had been anticipating.
McIlroy later reflected, `The uproar as that ball dropped was unbelievable. The atmosphere was incredible all day, but the noise following that putt was truly phenomenal.` He added, `That was an exceptionally memorable experience… quite possibly one of the most remarkable moments of my golfing career.`
Throughout the day, thousands of devoted fans, both local and international, appeared to buoy McIlroy along each hole. Regardless of whether he scored a birdie or a bogey, the fervent applause persisted, swelling with each approach to a green.
Everywhere, from the winding paths through the dunes to the bustling crosswalks, and on every packed vantage point, the sheer volume of the crowd underscored McIlroy’s status as the undeniable star of the championship. Even hotel staff near the fourth fairway formed a line to observe his passage. At the fifth green, admirers ascended a nearby dune, having trekked from the beach below, just to catch a glimpse of the play.
After finally hitting from the 17th tee, McIlroy`s shot landed amidst the spectators on the right. In a display of overzealous enthusiasm, one fan retrieved his ball, seemingly yearning for a tangible connection to their local icon. Surrounded by his fervent supporters, McIlroy calmly replaced the ball, then executed a challenging approach shot over a greenside bunker, landing it securely on the putting surface. As he advanced, the multitude, which had parted for his progress, coalesced behind him once more, their cheers intensifying with every step.
The refrain of `Rory! Rory! Rory!` resonated anew.
Throughout Saturday, the aspiration of a triumphant victory on home soil felt palpable for both McIlroy and his supporters. However, amidst these electrifying interludes, a formidable, almost unavoidable presence in the golf world silently dominated the leaderboard.
That presence was Scottie Scheffler.
With the 17th and 13th greens at Royal Portrush in close proximity, McIlroy, while lining up his birdie putt, observed Scheffler positioned on the adjacent hill. Scheffler`s tee shot, predictably, landed perfectly near the pin. McIlroy had frequently checked scoreboards to gauge his position, but now, the challenging reality of his competitor`s dominance was undeniably clear.
McIlroy conceded, `Scottie Scheffler is simply inevitable. Even on days when he`s not at his absolute peak, he maintains an unwavering consistency. He rarely makes errors.`
Scheffler secured a par on the 13th before carding another birdie on the notoriously difficult, lengthy par-3 16th, known as Calamity Corner – a hole that has confounded many players throughout the week. Yet, Scheffler has birdied it consistently for all three rounds.
McIlroy commented, `He appears to have no discernible weaknesses. Attempting to close the gap on a player of that caliber is exceptionally challenging.`
Scheffler`s dominance isn`t solely impeding McIlroy`s aspirations. Matthew Fitzpatrick, who began the day just one shot behind, now trails by five strokes entering Sunday. Russell Henley, with a Saturday score of 65, and Xander Schauffele, with a 66, both find themselves seven shots adrift, facing a formidable uphill battle for Sunday`s final round.
Schauffele remarked, `Observing Scottie play frequently, he seems to enter a state of complete focus, just performing instinctively. He exists in his own zone, impervious to external pressures.` He added, `He reaches that level of concentration regularly, which undoubtedly benefits his game.`
Harris English, also six shots behind McIlroy, stated, `He`s truly extraordinary. There`s nothing negative one could possibly say about him. His performance is captivating, and his achievements are nothing short of phenomenal.`
Even Haotong Li, who maintained his strong form with a round of 69, placing him four strokes behind Scheffler and in the final group for Sunday, couldn`t help but recognize the significant challenge ahead.
Li conceded, `Being four shots behind, it feels like playing for second place, especially when competing against the world`s number one.`
There`s an unsettling quality to Scheffler`s humility; while other players readily acknowledge his exceptional talent, he consistently downplays his own achievements. Even when confronted with undeniable evidence of his greatness, such as successfully converting nine consecutive 54-hole leads, Scheffler simply shrugs off the accomplishment.
When asked about his remarkable ability to close out tournaments, Scheffler responded, `Your guess is as good as mine. I simply enjoy competing out here.`
Despite his earlier week`s reflections on the unpredictable nature of victory, Scheffler`s intense competitive drive – whether consciously desired or not – has propelled him to a position where he is simultaneously pursued by all contenders and pursuing historical milestones. He`s also increasingly drawing comparisons to Tiger Woods, a narrative that continues to strengthen. A win on Sunday would make Scheffler only the fourth player to secure The Open, the Masters, and the PGA Championship titles before reaching the age of 30, a feat last achieved by Woods.
McIlroy and the rest of the chasing pack must cling to the belief that they dictate their fate on Sunday. However, in truth, their aspirations largely depend on the performance of a competitor who consistently extinguishes the hopes of others.
