Relaxed McIlroy wants to embrace pressure of second home Open bid

Rory McIlroy during a practice round at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Portrush, Antrim, ahead of The 153rd Open Championship. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Rory McIlroy has vowed to embrace his second bite at competing for an Open Championship in his native Northern Ireland, and declared that there is still plenty yet to come after completing golf’s Grand Slam at April’s Masters.

The Holyrood man endured a turbulent time when the tournament came to the Antrim coastline six years ago, shooting a quadruple bogey eight on the first hole, carding a first-round 79 and ultimately missing the cut.