Rory McIlroy finished runner-up to Chris Gotterup at the Scottish Open in his last tournament before the Open Championship.
McIlroy and Gotterup both started the final round at 11 under par and played together at the Renaissance Club.
The Northern Irishman will be disappointed to have lost the battle, but at least his preparations for The Open this week went well.
On the back of his impressive performance, Rich Beem looked ahead to Royal Portrush and made an interesting prediction.
Rich Beem makes Rory McIlroy prediction before Open Championship
McIlroy’s consecutive top 10 finishes at the Travelers Championship and Scottish Open will give him huge confidence heading into The Open.
His game seems to be in good enough shape to win the Claret Jug for a second time, but what about his mind?
The concern for many ahead of The Open is that the occasion, playing in front of his home fans in Northern Ireland, will be too much to handle emotionally.
Speaking on Sky Sports Golf, Beem said he fully expects McIlroy to show his emotions throughout the week because he knows no different.
However, the pundit also predicted that McIlroy will be much better prepared for the opening tee shot than he was at the last Open at Royal Portrush back in 2019.
“I think what he did this week is going to have a lot of impact on what happens next week. I think, going into next week, he’s feeling great about his game.
“About the emotional stuff, he’s not immune to it. He’s told us in years gone by. He gets emotional; we saw the emotions come pouring out at the 72nd green at Augusta National. Listen, this guy is not afraid.
“When he missed the cut last time, and he was sitting there with Tim Barter, he cried a tear or two. I think we were all crying because we knew how much it meant to him.
“I think he’ll figure out a way to get past it, but I can’t see him not being emotional whatsoever. He lives and dies by his emotions.
“I think it’s going to be interesting to watch, but I guarantee you this, he’ll be a lot more prepared for that opening tee shot this time around than he was in 2019, when he said he got on the first tee and was like. ‘Woah.'”
What Rory McIlroy said immediately after the last Open Championship at Royal Portrush
McIlroy massively underperformed in the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, missing the cut at two over par.
He was upset that he couldn’t put on more of a show for the Northern Irish crowd, for whom he showed great appreciation.
“There are a lot of [emotions],” McIlroy said after the 2019 Open. “Disappointed not to be here for the weekend, but unbelievably proud of how I handled myself today, coming back after what was a very challenging day yesterday.
“I’m just full of gratitude towards every single one of the people who followed me to the very end and were willing me on.
“As much as I came here at the start of the week saying I wanted to do it for me, by the end of the round there today, I was doing it just as much for them as I was for me.”
There is no guarantee that Royal Portrush will host The Open in the foreseeable future, adding even more importance to this event for McIlroy.
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