Rory McIlroy and an entire country building for a weekend wave at Portrush

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PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Rory McIlroy says this time he’s ready.

The Northern Irish star heads to the weekend solidly in the mix at the Open Championship after shooting 70-69 over two days for a score of three-under-par.

It’s as though somehow Portrush itself knew that six years ago it was all a little too much for Rory McIlroy. This seaside town was alive and ready to explode with the Open Championship, yet all week long there has been a nervous sense of, ‘We want Rory to win, but…”

It’s hard for an entire country to temper its expectations, but that was the sense as the Open Championship returns to Northern Ireland for the second time in six years and just the third time since 1953.

In 2019, it was the Portrush prince being carried to the first tee by his adoring subjects only to end his week on the first swing with one errant tee shot out of bounds. Six years later, Rory returns as king with the career grand slam under his belt.

And this time, he has managed to keep the ball in play through 36 holes.

“I didn’t have this opportunity six years ago, so to play an extra two days in this atmosphere in front of these crowds, I’m very excited for that,” he said after Friday’s round. “I feel like my game’s definitely good enough to make a run. So as I said, I’m excited for the weekend.”

His game has never been in question. Six years ago it was his nerves. More recently it has been his motivation. The 36-year-old star hasn’t been himself since completing the career grand slam, seemingly lost without the guiding light of his childhood goal which was to win all four majors.

“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,” he said pre-tournament.

After more or less sleepwalking through the PGA Championship and U.S. Open, McIlroy arrived to Portrush knowing that there could be no excuses for being unable to find motivation at this course of his youth, just an hour from his childhood home.

“I know what I need to do to get the best out of myself in an environment like that,” he said Friday. “I’ve been somewhat close to my best over the first two days in little bits here and there. I’m going to need to have it all under control and have it sort of all firing over the weekend to make a run.”

As McIlroy’s confidence has grown this week, so have the fans, both golfer and country gaining momentum and hoping to create a weekend wave at Royal Portrush.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I’d be coming back as a grand slam champion with the support of a nation behind me trying to win an Open Championship,” he said.

“Yeah, I’m excited for that opportunity.”