Rory McIlroy says something happened to him in practice round at Troon which he’s never experienced before

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Rory McIlroy’s quest to end his ten-year wait for major number five continues this week as the Northern Irishman tees it up in the 152nd Open Championship.

McIlroy was left frustrated during last week’s Scottish Open after he finished T4 on 14 under alongside Englishman Aaron Rai.

The 35-year-old quickly made the trip west after his outing at the Renaissance Club and has been at Royal Troon since the start of the week.

McIlroy appears to be in good spirits and has even been given putting advice by Luke Donald during his practice rounds.

On Wednesday, the four-time major winner spoke to the R&A’s official YouTube channel, and the Northern Irishman shed light on one extremely testing aspect of Troon’s setup.

Rory McIlroy did something he’s never done before at Royal Troon

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Reflecting on his Tuesday practice round, the Northern Irishman emphasised just how tricky the back nine will be.

“It’s relentless,” he explained. “Even starting off on ten, it’s probably one of the more gentle holes on the back nine. It’s a blind tee shot, and it gets you a little uncomfortable. But then 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. You get a little bit of rest bite on 16 with a par five, but then with 17 and 18 as well.”

McIlroy went on to claim he had never hit as many long irons in a row.

He added: “Yesterday, we played it straight back into the wind, and I’ve never hit as many three and four irons in a row. If you get that back nine into the wind, you shoot even par, and you are absolutely delighted.”

Rory McIlroy’s distance could be big advantage this week

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With the back nine set to be a slog, McIlroy’s distance could prove vital as he looks to contend come late on Sunday afternoon.

Troon’s setup means that the back nine holes will all play into the wind, whereas the front is more favourable, with the wind helping.

The shorter hitters could run into trouble trying to tackle the lengthy par fours as they head for home. The Northern Irishman, however, will use his length to his advantage.

Furthermore, the 35-year-old’s ability to control his ball flight could also help his cause. During the US Open at Pinehurst, McIlroy regularly played a stinging shot with his driver, a play that could become commonplace at The Open.