Rory McIlroy will be desperate to clinch success at The Open Championship, which is now underway at Royal Troon.
The Northern Irishman has not won a major since 2014, having come close on several occasions since then.
The most recent was at the US Open last month, where McIlroy finished just one shot behind winner Bryson DeChambeau.
Frustratingly, however, the title was in the former’s hands, before he bogeyed three of his final four holes at Pinehurst.
Two seemingly straightforward putts played a key role in his downfall, with McIlroy taking advice from Luke Donald on putting in the build-up to The Open.
Paul McGinley makes Rory McIlroy prediction at The Open
It remains to be seen exactly how McIlroy can recover from the collapse, with the 35-year-old having taken a break from golf after the US Open.
But he is now among a star-studded field for The Open Championship, with Paul McGinley predicting McIlroy’s chances of success at Troon.
“He has bounced back,” McGinley told Sky Sports Golf. “He’s got a lot of resilience, he has bounced back a lot in his career. Going way back to when he had that meltdown on the back nine at the Masters, then he wins a month later at the US Open, his first major.
“You think of The Open Championship in 2019 when he put the ball out of bounds and missed the cut at his home Open in Northern Ireland, and then runs off to play the next three months unbelievably well and wins the FedEx.
“So on big disappointments he’s been able to bounce back, and use it as motivation. But this is going to be a tall ask, bogeying three of the last four holes at the US Open really did hurt. Missing short putts too was a big deal.
“But look, he can come back. It’s going to be a tough thing for him. I wouldn’t discount that. I think it would be a great storyline should he do so, I think it would transcend the game of sport and become a human thing that people can bounce back from huge disappointments, whether you’re a big superstar in golf or whatever you may be as a person.”
Can Rory McIlroy end his major drought at The Open?
The world number two certainly didn’t hide his emotions at Pinehurst, having exited the venue not long after DeChambeau sank his winning putt.
Colin Montgomerie saw nothing wrong with McIlroy’s decision to leave the US Open early, with the latter clearly not wanting to discuss the collapse with anybody.
But he has since spoken about the heartbreak, and will be eager to get it out of his system the best way possible this week.
McIlroy carded 14 under to finish T4 at the Scottish Open last week, which should give him confidence for Royal Troon.
He will also be lifted by the crowds in Scotland, although many would rather see another title for Scottish Open champion Robert MacIntyre.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
