Rory McIlroy stunned Portrush with incredible feat at just 16 as he returns 20 years on
Two decades have elapsed since the amazing day in 2005 where McIlroy announced himself to the world
Rory McIlroy returns to Royal Portrush for The Open with two decades having now passed since announcing himself to the world with his jaw-dropping 61 on the famous course.
In the 20 years which have passed since the 16-year-old set the golfing world alight with his magic on the Dunluce Links, he has achieved everything in the game.
In his words, McIlroy has fulfilled his childhood ambitions having ticked the final box with his Masters triumph at Augusta in April.
At the age of 36, the Northern Irishman has done the lot. A career Grand Slam with each individual Major won and he's been a World No.1 with home and away wins in the Ryder Cup amidst other glittering achievements.
McIlroy is hunting his new Everest and a success on home soil at the 153rd Championship would surely add to the list of astounding career highs.
He was, of course, tipped for the very top from a very young age with many observers seeing the magic within the ultra-talented youngster.
Chipping balls into mum's washing machine in the house was one thing, but taking apart the Dunluce when barely out of school was something on an another level.
It was the day of nine birdies, an eagle and just 61 blows on that now famous July day in 2005 when the world knew that the European Ryder Cup hero was destined for the top.
McIlroy has relived the moment more than once. He was asked about it prior to his appearance at the 2019 Open and also gave his clearest recollections in an R&A presentation which was made ahead of that 147th Championship .
In the footage, the player admits it's not something he'll ever forget as he explained: 'Whenever I think back about Royal Portrush and about links golf and my development, I always think about that round of golf.
'Honestly, there's not many golf rounds that I'll remember every shot, but that day, I do. I remember missing a putt at the first for birdie.
"Driver, six-iron onto the middle of the green at the second and two putted it for birdie. I made a great birdie at the par three sixth. I remember hitting like a wedge into the ninth that was playing as a par five at the time.
'And then I remember there's a funny moment on the 11th tee, the par three down the hill. We were waiting on the group ahead of us to finish out and I saw the guy in front of us fist pump when he held the putt.
"And I said to my playing partners: Why would you be fist pumping on a second day of qualifying in the north of Ireland? And then at that point, I was five under for my round and I held the putt on the 11th green to go six under and, out of nowhere, I give it a fist pump. And I remember one of my playing partners on the 12th tee said: What was that you said about fist pumping on the last tee? But at that point, I realised I was doing something pretty special.'
McIlroy composed during a lengthy wait on the 17th tee as he continued: 'I think I probably had caught myself thinking too much about it and I just wanted to go and clear my head a little bit and come back and start afresh with the new golf shot. I got to 10 under and I was like: Okay, just don't screw this up at the last.
'You can even make bogey and still have the course record. And I hit a perfect drive and a good eight iron into the heart of the green. Honestly, all I was trying to do was two putt from about 20 feet and I rolled it in.
'I just wanted to break the course record at that point. I didn't care if it was 63 or 62 or 61. I just wanted to be the one that had the course record here and I think that almost freed me up in a way. I was like: Okay I've done my job now. I can just sort of enjoy the last few holes.
'As a 16-year-old, it takes a lot for your confidence to be dented. The confidence I had and I guess the cockiness as well at 16. It was a defining moment.'
Alterations had been made to Royal Portrush with changed holes by the time The Open was won by Shane Lowry at the venue 14 years after McIlroy's magical day and more subtle tweaks have taken place ahead of the 153rd Championship.
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