Brian Harman shows true colours with five-word Rory McIlroy reply before Royal Troon

Brian Harman and Rory McIlroy. (Image: Getty Images)

Open champion Brian Harman has expressed his empathy for Rory McIlroy as he prepares to defend his title at Royal Troon this week, declaring: "I can't imagine being Rory."

Harman, who triumphed at Royal Liverpool last year, has touched down in Ayrshire ready to defend his title and shared his thoughts on his year as the Open champion after relinquishing the Claret Jug in Scotland on Monday.

When asked about dealing with fame since becoming Champion Golfer of The Year and how it compares to the scrutiny faced by his competitor McIlroy, the American acknowledged that his experience pales in comparison.

"It's all perspective, right? You can only experience it through your own experience," Harman said during his press conference, responding to a question about enjoying moments of 'normality'.

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"I can't imagine being Rory. Rory would have trouble going out to eat somewhere. Yeah, that's a part of this gig that's probably been the hardest adjustment is not having enough of your own time, I guess you could say, to where it's hard to escape it sometimes.

"That's why I think like my farm and being out on the boat and stuff like that are the places that we crave because it's the place where you get to escape all of it, and you just get to be by yourself for a little while."

Brian Harman sympathised with Rory McIlroy. (Image: Getty Images)

McIlroy remains a constant presence in the golfing spotlight, having established himself as one of the sport's leading figures alongside Tiger Woods over recent years.

He found himself at the centre of the sporting world's attention at last month's U.S. Open when he came close to breaking his ten-year spell without a Major win at Pinehurst.

Unfortunately, the sportsman missed out tragically to Bryson DeChambeau by a single shot, after leading by two with just five remaining holes in North Carolina.

Rory McIlroy missed out on winning the U.S. Open. (Image: Getty Images) SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

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Following the disappointing loss, he decided on a month-long break from golf. Returning to participate in the recent Scottish Open, he shared candidly about the pressures of being one of the key fixtures of the game, admitting that he hadn't taken a holiday in half a decade.

McIlroy confessed: "I need to take a step back and appreciate what I've done in my career and in my life and enjoy my success. I don't really enjoy my success and I haven't I would say for the last five. I haven't been on a vacation in probably four or five years."

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In addition to this, he acknowledged the wholesome need of live outside of his sport. "So I think just stepping back and enjoying myself a little bit more away from my game is the thing. Have some fun."

Despite the hiatus, McIlroy demonstrated no sign of rusty performance during his victorious return in North Berwick the previous week, with an impressive 14-under-par across four rounds securing him a tied fourth place position.

The spotlight swiftly returns to the grand stage as he journeys to Royal Troon, aiming to finally clinch a major victory. McIlroy's last triumph in the majors was back in 2014 when he won the PGA Championship at Valhalla, just a month after securing the Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool.

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Brian Harman shows true colours with five-word Rory McIlroy reply before Royal Troon

Brian Harman shows true colours with five-word Rory McIlroy reply before Royal Troon

Brian Harman shows true colours with five-word Rory McIlroy reply before Royal Troon

Brian Harman shows true colours with five-word Rory McIlroy reply before Royal Troon

Brian Harman shows true colours with five-word Rory McIlroy reply before Royal Troon