Rory McIlroy decribes playing in Ireland as a ‘double-edged sword’ ahead of Irish Open

The Holywood native opened on his 'struggles' with performing in his home country.

Rory McIlroy is back in County Down this weekend to compete in the Amgen Irish Open, and he has opened up about his 'mixed emotions' of playing in his home country.

The current PGA Tour number three hasn't won the Irish Open in eight years - since his 2016 K Club victory - and will be open to end that dry spell with a strong performance at a course he grew up playing.

The 35-year-old has had a frustrating year so far, most notably dramatically missing out on the US Open title after lipping out a four foot putt on the 18th at Pinehurst in June.

Despite success at the Wells Fargo Championship in May, a ten year run without a major championship is something that the Northern Irishman must be dying to put an end to.

Despite being a fan favourite on the Emerald Isle, McIlroy hasn't always performed his best in front of the home crowds.

His infamous meltdown at the first round of the 2019 Open in Portrush must still live vividly in his memory, and he'll be hoping a win this weekend can put an end to those haunting memories.

Speaking ahead of tee-off later today, the 35-year-old opened up on his mixed experiences of playing in Ireland.

"It’s a bit of a double-edged sword," McIlroy said. "I think I get the buzz but I also feel the added pressure of trying to perform at home.

"[It’s] something I’ve honestly struggled with in the past. The couple Irish Opens that I’ve played in Northern Ireland [and] the Open Championship I’ve played in Northern Ireland haven’t went so well.

"It’s me trying to relax a little bit and just try go about my business the way I usually would any other time of the year."

He continued: "It’s obviously great to play in front of them but I have to manage my own little world around me to try get the best out of myself as well."

The four-time major winner also clarified that his recently announced Las Vegas team match with Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka - due to take place in December as a one-off televised event - was not organised with the intention to ‘send a message’.

Rory McIlroy discusses the reason for his upcoming made-for-TV match with Scottie Scheffler against Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka. pic.twitter.com/ut6Lxwr1PC

— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) September 11, 2024

The event will see the two biggest stars on the PGA Tour compete against the most high-profile figures of LIV Golf, and many have speculated that the match is being put on as an attempt to smooth over tensions within the golfing community.

"I wouldn’t say it’s meant to send a message," McIlroy said.

"It’s more we wanted to do something that, I guess, all golf fans could get excited about. You’ve got the best player in the world.

"You’ve got two guys in Bryson and Brooks that have won majors in the last two years," he continued. "You’ve got me in there who – I haven’t done what those guys have done the last couple years but I’ve definitely been I feel one of the best players in the world.

"It’s a way to show golf fans in the world that this is what could happen or these are the possibilities going forward. I’ve been saying this for a long time. I think golf and golf fans should get to see us together more than four times a year."

He added: "We’re all, in the game of golf, trying to look for a solution to all this and trying to move forward."