Links golf can still stymie golf’s sorcerists

Rory McIlroy had laid the hard foundations earlier in the week, that of fulfilling his corporate commitments around his own tournament. The rest of the week was meant to be all about himself, chasing victory in the Irish Open — a victory he covets most outside the Masters.

The problem was that if the script had already been written, no-one told Rory because over a cold and unrelenting Royal County Down test, the world’s best player was humbled — not by ambition but by indecision and a poorly performing putter.

Links golf courses can do that to you, but it was a shame too that despite Rory’s best laid plans, the weather took centre stage just as the tournament was about to kick-off.