"I want to create new memories this week" : McIlroy going all out to pick up another Open title
Rory determined to win at Carnoustie and defend Claret Jug in Portrush
Rory McIlroy has vowed to end the current American dominance in golf – starting at the Open.
The World Number Eight begins his bid for a second title alongside 2015 runner-up Mark Leishman around lunchtime today (Thursday).
The US currently holds all four of the sport’s ‘Majors’ – but McIlroy wants to buck the trend by winning at Carnoustie – 11 years after making his debut there as a fresh-faced 18-year-old.
Back then he picked up the Silver Medal as a leading amateur.
“I can’t believe this is my 10th Open,” he said.
“I’ve some good memories – and hopefully I can create some new memories this week.
McIlroy won the competition in 2014 and is keen to win the title again – thereby setting up a defence in Northern Ireland when the Open returns to Royal Portrush next year for the first time since 1951.
“It's great to be back,'' McIlroy said.
“It doesn't seem like 11 years ago that The Open was here last. I hadn't even turned pro yet and didn't know what to expect or the journey that I was about to embark on.
“So to be back and be in a different position, to be talked about as one of the guys that could win, and to already have a Claret Jug is very nice, but obviously I want to add to my collection. It would be nice to win at Carnoustie, where I was able to pick up a silver medal a few years ago.
“I've had a decent career up until this point and I've got a lot of time left to add to my major tally. It's hard to win any week on Tour, let alone the four big ones that we get a year.
“I was on a nice run there (in majors) from 2011 to 2014. I haven't won one since, but I'm trying. I'm trying my best every time I tee it up and it just hasn't happened. I'll give it a good go this week.
“And if I were to head to Portrush with a Claret Jug in my possession, I'd obviously be very happy and be very proud to be the defending champion at a golf course that I know very well and playing in front of home fans.”
McIlroy won his first major title in the 2011 US Open, his second in the 2012 US PGA and then won both the Open and US PGA - with the Bridgestone Invitational sandwiched in between - in a four-week spell in 2014.
“I've always said that my performances in the majors at that point wasn't the norm,'' added McIlroy, who has played in 13 majors since victory at Valhalla and has either finished in the top 10 or missed the cut in 11 of them.
“That was above my normal level, then you go back down and then you build yourself back up again. Everything finds its balance. The 14 that Tiger won was him at the peak of his powers. We're not all going to be like that every single time.
“As long as there's points during the year where you can maybe get yourself to that level, then that's great. If you put yourself in position enough times, you'll hopefully find a way to get it done. I found a way to get it done four times, and hopefully I find a way to get it done a few more times before I'm finished.''
Northern Ireland is also being represented this week by Darren Clarke who’s only Major title came in 2011 when he won the US Open.
The 49-year-old tees off at 9.30am.