Rory McIlroy doesn't respond during awkward driving range moment at The Open

Jacob Skov Olesen and Rory McIlroy practiced next to one another on the driving range (Image: Instagram: @therandagolf)

Rory McIlroy hasn't won a major for 10 years but his fame and pedigree is still enough to quicken the heart-rates of his younger competitors. That's exactly what happened to Jacob Skov Olesen - an amateur up-and-comer hoping to make a splash at The Open this week.

Skov Olesen arrived at Royal Troon as the holder of the Amateur Championship, having become the first Danish player to win the coveted title when he prevailed in Ballyliffin on June 22.

But the nerves were still jangling when he took his spot alongside McIlroy on the driving range this week. Communicating via Skov Olesen's headphones, broadcaster Simon Holmes asked him: "If you look behind you, who do you see?"

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Laughing, Skov Olesen responded: "Rory McIlroy." The 25-year-old even turned around to double check he was there but McIlroy, seemingly oblivious to the conversation awkwardly taking place right behind him, was dialled in and focused on his range session.

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Holmes continued: "Have you ever been nervous hitting balls on a driving range before?" Skov Olesen conceded: "Not like this, no!"

With 12 amateur golfers set to tee it up at Royal Troon on Thursday, this year's field has more amateurs than any other since 1987. They will be going all out to clinch the silver medal awarded to the leading amateur finisher across the four days.

Jacob Skov Olesen is hoping to make a splash at The Open this week (Image: Getty)

Skov Olesen has been based in the USA for the past four years, most recently playing college golf for the University of Arkansas. While he will be hoping for a respectable showing in South Ayrshire, McIlroy's sights will naturally be set even higher.

The 35-year-old is desperate to end his major silverware drought after a sequence of good results in recent tournaments. McIlroy was positive about his prospects after finishing tied for fourth at the Scottish Open on Sunday.

"Overall, I feel like my game is in really good shape heading into the final Major of the year," he said. "The reason that I like to play the week before the majors is to knock a little bit of rust off and try to get sharp. I feel like I've done that.

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"I haven’t played links golf since Hoylake last year, so it was good to get back on a links course. I got to play in a little bit of wind, just getting acclimated to the shots that you need and I don’t think the speeds of the greens are going to be too dissimilar (at Royal Troon). So I'm just trying to adjust.

"I played it [The Open at Royal Troon] eight years ago and remember it pretty well. The bunkers at Troon are very penal, so I'll be trying to employ a strategy where you can navigate your way around them. If I can get the putter to cooperate and get the speed of the greens, I feel like I’ll be in a really good spot."

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Rory McIlroy doesn't respond during awkward driving range moment at The Open

Rory McIlroy doesn't respond during awkward driving range moment at The Open

Rory McIlroy doesn't respond during awkward driving range moment at The Open

Rory McIlroy doesn't respond during awkward driving range moment at The Open

Rory McIlroy doesn't respond during awkward driving range moment at The Open