The rapid six-year gap between Opens is nothing like the wait from 1951 to 2019 and a further endorsement of the triumph of that staging two years ago.
McIlroy’s 65 matched a new course record after Royal Portrush had been redesigned with two new holes added for this tournament, but it left him with one stroke too many.
Holywood’s low-key connection to McIlroy is an interesting contrast to Portrush, which has always been keen to bask in the success of its native sons.
Australian Golf Digest
