ask: Rory was there today with a wonderful atmosphere and you seemed to really like it. How about that for you?
Rory McIlroy: Yes, it’s incredible. This is so interesting. I came to a perfect start, less than 4 to 4. It feels like at the first nine ends, at least until 11 o’clock, at 7 o’clock, 7 feels like a bogey, and then bogey at 11 o’clock.
Then, I think it’s a good effort to hit those seven holes with 3 strokes. Yes, I played very well. I ride luck sometimes, but yes, there is an incredible atmosphere. I feel like I’ll give myself half the chance tomorrow.
ask: Can you talk to us through some soap opera activities, not just a quick start, but what happened at 11 o’clock? Then, incredible responses in the 56-foot hawk putts on 12 and 15 birdies, it was a bit of a drop.
Rory McIlroy: Obviously a good start, like the dream start being able to be at a low of 4 to 4 and have 5 and 7 to play. Don’t have a bird, it’s a bit disappointing.
Yes, that’s what happened at 11 – my ball became so weird, like I thought I was going to take off the flyer, I looked up at my ball and I could see it spinning in the wind. Just a very strange person – I obviously didn’t know there was a ball near it.
Anyway, I could have done better with the chip lens there. That’s bogey- I mean, bogey on 11 is not the end of the world. It’s a tough hole. Yes, the 12-year-old Hawk is one of the coolest moments – one of the biggest rants I’ve ever heard on a golf course. So that was a cool moment. It was great to put these shots back directly, I felt really solid when I hit the last few holes and then picked up one and came in, which was great.
ask: What are your plans between tomorrow and the kick-off time?
Rory McIlroy: Have supper and sleep as much as I can. There is no rugby to distract me tomorrow morning. Watched the New Zealand France and the Lion Game.
I’ll try to find something to watch out for. Last night I started “Oppenheimer”. Try to spend another hour of tonight, maybe ending tomorrow morning. Apart from that, just keep me away from things. I always distract myself. So if I can distract myself and make up my mind, it’s always a good plan for me.
ask: What do you think of Scottie’s performance so far?
Rory McIlroy: Yes, he’s like Scottie. I don’t think this is surprising. Over the past two or three years, everyone has seen how he plays or how he plays. He is too solid. He made no mistakes. It seems he can bogey at the age of 14.
He also became a very stable putter. Therefore, there seems to be no weaknesses there. It’s hard to do whenever you try to chase someone like this. But he left a deep impression on people.
ask: After what happened to 11, you seem to show up in surprise. Is this one of the weirdest things you’ve ever experienced on a golf course?
Rory McIlroy: Yes, I’ve never happened before. It never happens in any other course except for the link course. It’s weird when everything rough is knocked down and the ball gets it.
ask: You tell us you are looking forward to playing in the Open Championship. When we look at your highlights in 12th place, please describe it.
Rory McIlroy: Yes, it’s definitely an atmosphere full of charge all day. Apparently, the start was pretty good, with three of the first four birdies. Absolutely happy to be playing in front of my guys, fans, and yes, I obviously tried my best. I do my best every week but I really just want to hang there and stay in it. Obviously some other players obviously have a few goals in the front, but today I was good enough to have a chance at least tomorrow.
ask: You won 16 times on the PGA Tour, including starting from six defenders. Give us your thoughts on tomorrow and the challenges you face?
Rory McIlroy: Yes, look, Scottie Scheffler is – it’s inevitable. Even if he doesn’t have the best, he becomes a (unbelievable) player. His putting made great progress. Yes, it will be hard to catch him tomorrow if he continues to play his own way. But if I could go out tomorrow and start a similar start to what I did today, letting the crowd move forward, hoping he could delay a few groups behind me and you would never know. But I just have to go out and play another really good golf game and see what happens.
ask: The first hole of this golf course is sometimes a revenge king, but for the last two days it was a back-to-back bird.
Rory McIlroy: Yes, a little bonus starts. Jordan is similar to me, so it’s nice to see his putter today. But yes, it’s a perfect way to start.
ask: Talk about 4.
Rory McIlroy: Yes, it’s a perfect club, just a firm 8-iron, and yes, you want to hit some hard to stop it to that front pin. Like I said, the dream begins with a range of 4 to 4.
ask: You turn at 3 poles. 11What happened?
Rory McIlroy: Honestly, I don’t know. That was the strangest and ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen. Then my ball was really weird and spinning. Yes, it’s so weird.
ask: Are you sure the other ball popped up is not yours?
Rory McIlroy: Yes, I know not. But this is too strange.
ask: Bounce back from bogey. Talk about 12.
Rory McIlroy: Yes, this is probably one of the coolest moments I’ve ever had on the golf course. The roaring as the ball enters is crazy. It was crazy all day, but the noise after the putter came in was incredible.
ask: Compared with 2019, this year’s experience is unique?
Rory McIlroy: Yes, I’m here really just trying to embrace it, and I think I’m here too – if I didn’t win the Grand Slam this year, if I didn’t win the Master, I might have made a difference. But I’m just here – it’s a celebration of almost everything I’m able to accomplish. I want to celebrate with them, too. I just really tried to embrace everything this week. I had an incredible time. I’m really happy, I feel like I’ve given myself half the chance now, and I’m very excited tomorrow.
ask: You’re going to that wonderful start and you seem to keep the momentum of the whole round. What are you most proud of?
Rory McIlroy: Yes, I think it’s the development that I keep the momentum going. My only shot was at 11, then rebounded with the Hawks at 12, then rebounded in the 15-year-old birdie. I know there are a lot of low scores, but it’s not easy there. There are some very tricky hole locations. It’s hard to get very close. I hit a few very beautiful long putts. You just have to choose your position where you are aggressive and try making birds on these holes, then there are some difficult holes if you let the PAR make you happy before going to the next one.
ask: We talked about the crowds here yesterday, the gallery here, your country has been doing it for you. Are you consuming energy like that?
Rory McIlroy: Yes, after that, I don’t know how you can’t absorb energy. Playing in front of these fans is absolutely incredible. I’m so glad to be able to experience it one day.
ask: I know that execution tomorrow will be a big aspect for you. You’re chasing someone I’m sure you don’t think you will not back up. Will that change your strategy?
Rory McIlroy: I don’t think so. When it comes to execution, he is probably the best in the business right now. The only thing I can hope is that I will start with the same starting point as today to get off the bus, let the crowd really move forward, and then hope that he can hear a few groups coming back, maybe feeling a little stressed. But Scottie is an amazing player. He has proven that he has been the best player in the world for the last two to three years and it will be hard to catch him tomorrow.
ask: Is today very interesting? Of course, you seem to be more interesting than the first few days.
Rory McIlroy: Yes. That’s very interesting. There were moments in the course, there were 12 on the Eagle putts, and several other long putts, even 1 putt, which was the biggest roar I’ve ever heard on the golf course.
Playing in front of all these people in those atmospheres, I’m glad to get another day tomorrow.
ask: There are hordes of Rory McIlroy fans want to know what they want to follow you on Sunday.
Rory McIlroy: Yes, look, I have more than half the chance. I have a chance. I need to do a great start like today and if I can do that, anything will happen. I’ve been behind a few photos from the previous big game and was able to win. If I could start one of those hot starts again, maybe Scotty felt a little bit of the next few groups and you would never know. Scottie is now the best player in the world. I think everyone can see it. He maintains a good attitude every week, so it will be a difficult task to be able to catch him tomorrow. But I will look forward to the challenge.
