McIlroy's Open to cherish, despite missing victory

The loyalist bands gathered in Portrush on Saturday evening for a parade that lasted two hours, halting all traffic in the area. Tournament organizers directed departing spectators away from the scene, but many golf fans, myself included, still found themselves caught in the commotion. While the event was described as a cultural celebration, it may have been more welcoming to visitors without its divisive associations and significant police presence.

On the course, a different Ireland was on display. Northern Irish or from the Republic, nationalist or unionist, Catholic or Protestant—whatever divides the roughly 300,000 attendees throughout the week, they were united in their shared hope to see Rory McIlroy make his next move.

When McIlroy stepped out for his final round at two in the afternoon, crowds lined the fairway and green several rows deep. Nearly 10,000 people stood at that single hole, all sharing a quiet anticipation as he prepared his opening drive. The passion for McIlroy here is well-documented, but its true intensity is only felt when walking the course alongside him. His playing partner, Matt Fitzpatrick, remarked, "I've heard enough 'Rorys' to last me a lifetime."

Admiration followed him at every turn. On the 2nd hole, a woman shouted, "I love you, Rory," while a man on the 5th called out, "I named my eldest after you." Dozens perched atop the dunes near the 7th tee, waiting hours for a brief glimpse as he passed by.

This Open belonged to McIlroy, even though he didn’t win. Across the country, fans tied his performance closely to the tournament itself, so any mention of the event inevitably led to questions about whether he was in contention. He played in the second-to-last group, yet the sheer size of the crowd following him suggested otherwise. Spectators rushed from hole to hole to keep up, often leaving Scottie Scheffler to putt before an already departing audience.

McIlroy’s physical strength is undeniable, but the emotional weight he carries is immense. It overwhelmed him in 2019 during his first Open at Portrush, but this time, he embraced it—clearly relishing every moment. "I feel a lot of gratitude and a lot of pride," he said, "pride that I’m from here."