The Open: McIlroy says story isn't over as he prepares at Royal Portrush

Rory McIlroy says his 'story isn't over' as he spoke to the assembled media ahead of this week's 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush.

The Holywood star, making his first return home - for golfing reasons at least - since completing the career Grand Slam by winning the Masters at Augusta in April, heads the start-studded field as the Major returns to Northern Ireland for the first time since 2019.

"It doesn't feel like six years has passed since 2019. I think it's amazing that Portrush has this opportunity so soon after the last Open to host again," said the 36-year-old in a packed media centre.

"I don't spend a lot of time in these parts anymore just with travel schedule, living abroad, all that stuff. To be here, to see a lot of familiar faces, every hole on the course has a different team of marshals from different golf clubs, and just to see people that I've met throughout the years out there this morning was really nice."

Resetting goals

While McIlroy crtainly hasn't struggled since that momentous Masters victory, his game hasn't been as strong as he would have wanted it to be.

But runner-up at the weekend in the Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club sees him come into the final Major of the year in better form. He admits that he's still coming to terms with his career-defining achievement.

"I think everyone could see over the last couple of months how I struggled with that, I've done something that I've told everyone that I wanted to do, but then it's like I still feel like I have a lot more to give. Anyone that sits up here at this table, we're all competitors. We all want to do better. We all think we can just get a little bit extra out of what we have.

"I've alluded to this, but I probably just didn't give myself enough time to let it all sink in. But that's the nature of professional golf. They do a very good job of keeping you on the hamster wheel, and you feel like it's hard to get off at times," he feels.

"But it's been an amazing year. The fact that I'm here at Portrush with the green jacket, having completed that lifelong dream, I want to do my best this week to enjoy everything that comes my way and enjoy the reaction of the fans and enjoy being in front of them and playing in front of them. I want to win this golf tournament, and I feel like I'm very capable of doing that."

He was a sruprise appearance at 7am on the course on Monday morning, around 12 hours after he had finished up in Scotland.

Admitting he was working off just four hours of sleep, McIlroy says he's opting to embrace the fuss and fanfare of an expectant home crowd as the week progresses.

We got to the hotel at 1am, but it's been great. By the time I got to the back nine today, there was a nice crowd out there. After the 18th and seeing all the kids and signing autographs, it's really, really nice, and I'm sure that'll just build as the week goes on," he said.

"I try to go about my business. I try to give the best of myself every time I'm out there. It's amounted to some pretty nice things so far. As I said at the start of this, I still feel like there's a lot left in there. The story certainly isn't over.

"I think in '19 I probably tried to isolate, and I think it's better for everyone if I embrace it. I think it's better for me and it's nice to be able to accept adulation, even though I struggle with it at times," he revealed.

"But it's also nice for the person that is seeing you for the first time in a few years. It just makes for a better interaction and not trying to hide away from it. I think it's more of an embrace everything that's going to come my way this week and not try to shy away from it or hide away from it, and I think that'll make for a better experience for everyone involved."