Rory McIlroy: 'I'd like to think that the people that love and care about me think a certain way of me'

Rory McIlroy during a press conference ahead of The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Pic: David Davies/PA Wire. publishing.

Rory McIlroy has admitted he is not interested in his legacy, nor chasing records as he revealed his primary motivation at this week’s 154th Open Championship will be “seeing how good I can be”.

Speaking at his pre-tournament press conference on Tuesday ahead of Thursday’s final major championship of the season, the world number two and back-to-back reigning Masters champion was asked if was concerned about how he will be viewed 100 years for now.

Already a six-time major champion, including an Open victory at nearby Royal Liverpool in 2014; a six-time Ryder Cup winner, three-time PGA Tour player of the year and seven-time European order of merit winner, the 37-year-old’s place in the golfing pantheon has been assured since he completed the career Grand Slam of all four majors with his 2025 Masters victory.

Yet McIlroy replied: “No, I don't really care. I would like to think that the people that love and care about me think a certain way of me, but yeah, I'll be long gone.

“I'll be dead. I don't think I'll be seeing what people say about me. I'll be six feet under. I don't think I'll be a ghost. I don't think I'll be, you know, like… yeah, I don't care.” 

McIlroy gets his tournament underway on Thursday ostensibly attempting to win a second Open win but he later added: “I think it would be a pretty unfulfilling pursuit if you're just chasing records and chasing results.

“You have to enjoy the process. You have to enjoy the journey to get there. I've learned that the hard way at times by chasing results and chasing records too much.

“You start to focus on your craft and your practice and doing the things you need to do to try to become a better golfer, and then if you do that, the results and the winning almost take care of themselves, or at least you put yourself in position enough to at least step through the door a few times.

“It's not like when I step onto the golf course… you're obviously trying to win, but winning is such a … like it's not a real tangible goal, right? So the real goal is I want to do this with my swing or I want to hit this sort of shot or I want to feel good when I'm over the ball, whatever it is.

“If you do that stuff enough times, hopefully you get yourself in a position to win. Then from there, yeah, you can start to think about winning the tournament. But if all you're thinking about is winning and results, you're playing the wrong game.” 

Rory McIlroy ahead of The 154th Open Championship. Pic: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.

As far as McIlroy is concerned, his own game is “trending in the right direction”. 

The Holywood golfer rebounded from a tie for 32nd at last month’s US Open in Shinnecock Hills, New York, with a tie for seventh at last weekend’s Scottish Open, though his title challenge was undone by a third-round, three-over-par 73. 

That had sent him back to the practice range at The Renaissance Club where he was caught on camera mouthing the words, “you're so bad at golf” to himself. He rebounded last Sunday with a closing six-under 64 to go with his opening pair of 63s.

“It's funny, I felt really good the first two days in Scotland and then felt like my game just sort of deteriorated as the week went on,” McIlroy said. “Even though I shot a good score on Sunday, it didn't feel very good.

“So, yeah, I've done a good bit of work the past couple days, again, getting the TrackMan out, seeing what my numbers are, and just trying to match up the feels of my swing with what I'm seeing.

“Also, like I played 30 holes on Sunday. I felt a little bit tired yesterday, so I didn't make it on the course, but that allowed me a bit more time to hit some balls and dig into the swing a little bit.

“Felt good on the range. Felt good out on the course today. Definitely trending in the right direction.” 

 McIlroy is set to get underway on Thursday at 3:15pm in the company of Xander Schauffele and Matt Fitzpatrick and he revealed what will be his single biggest motivator on the first tee.

“Seeing how good I can be. Seeing if the work I've put in and the practice that I've put in can stand up to the most intense pressure that we are under, which is major championships.”