While all the golfers moving from Europe to the PGA Tour will have played in America before, staying for long periods of time is not quite the same as popping in and out.
Bogey-free, the 38-year-old South African strolled round Royal St George’s in a nifty six-under par 64 to claim the early lead in the 149th Open Championship.
McIlroy finds himself this year on the verge of missing the cut for just the second time at Augusta National and for the first time since 2010, his second time playing the tournament.