Rory McIlroy gets in the zone for return to Irish Open

McIlroy's 2016 Irish Open victory came in similarly parkland surroundings at the K Club and Mount Juliet was offering the same vibes when he played it for the first time in his life today

Rory McIlroy plays a practice round ahead of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Mount Juliet. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

Rory McIlroy disembarked his overnight flight from New York and went straight into tournament mode at Mount Juliet as his preparations for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open began in Co. Kilkenny.

And if the four-time major winner hits the ground in equally smart fashion at his national open this weekend, who knows where it may lead him in the coming weeks. The 32-year-old this week returns to the European Tour event he helped to rescue from a sponsor-less decline eight years ago and which he hosted for four years but skipped in 2019 and 2020.