Rory McIlroy makes nostalgic training choice ahead of Paris Olympics showdown
In a bid to prep for the grand Paris Olympics, Rory McIlroy honed his skills at the legendary Old Course at St Andrews this week - making a nostaglic return to the very site where he came within mere shots of winning the 150th Open in 2022.
The celebrated golfer was seen taking relaxed swings, while an eager crowd of approximately 100-200 spectators watched. Viral clips from social media show McIlroy driving powerful shots across the 12th and 16th holes, interspersed with light-hearted chit-chat with fans.
One memorable exchange involved a particularly enthusiastic American fan, prompting McIlroy to jest with a cheeky retort: "You're not gonna love us next year! "a playful nod to the intensity of the forthcoming 2025 Ryder Cup.
Nevertheless, McIlroy's immediate attention is on the Olympic men's tournament teeing off at Le Golf National on Thursday. Following several turbulent weeks, a commanding display in Paris could provide a much-needed boostwith the prospect of clinching Olympic gold adding to the allure.
function loadOvpScript(){let el=document.createElement('script');el.setAttribute('src','https://live.primis.tech/live/liveView.php?s=114291&vp_content=plembed3e7arguyxmsj&cbuster=%%CACHEBUSTER%%&playerApiId=v114291&vp_content=plembed3e7arguyxmsj&cbuster=%%CACHEBUSTER%%');document.getElementById('ovp-primis').appendChild(el)} window.top.addEventListener('primisPlayerInit',e=>{try{if(e.detail&&e.detail.playerApiId==="v114291&vp_content=plembed3e7arguyxmsj&cbuster=%%CACHEBUSTER%%"){if(window.document.getElementsByClassName('jwplayer')[0]){e.detail.float('disable')}}}catch(e){}});window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded',()=>{setTimeout(()=>{if(typeof flagTcfLoaded!=='undefined'&&flagTcfLoaded===!0){loadOvpScript() ExpressApp.Log('[Load] OVP flagTcfLoaded',new Date())}else{document.addEventListener("tcfLoaded",()=>{loadOvpScript() ExpressApp.Log('[Load] OVP tcfLoaded',new Date())})}},1500)})McIlroy suffered agonising defeats at the US Open and Open Championship (Image: Getty Images)Rewind to June, and McIlroy faced a bitter moment at the US Open, ceding a two-shot advantage in the latter stages to Bryson DeChambeau. Post that heartbreak, the world's third-ranked golfer declared a brief hiatus from golf, only to re-emerge for the Genesis Scottish Open, where he claimed a respectable joint fourth finish.
McIlroy then suffered a frustrating Open at Royal Troon earlier this month, culminating in a dismal performance that saw him fail to make the cut. After carding 78 and 74 over two rounds, McIlroy ended up an agonising 11 over-par, well adrift of the required mark.
His disastrous two-day total marked his poorest showing in a major since the Open Championship in 2013.
After his disappointing early departure from the Open, McIlroy openly admitted to reporters his lack of engagement following a catastrophic start. "I think once I made the eight on the fourth hole, that was it," he confessed.
Related articles Rory McIlroy's former ally denies wild LIV claim as Phil Mickelson intervenes LIV Golf rebel who took aim at Tiger Woods subject to Greg Norman's axe warningDismayed so early in the contest, McIlroy's thoughts turned pre-emptively to holiday plans, signalling his resignation from the competition: "22 holes into the event and I'm thinking about where I'm going to go on vacation next week."
Despite the setback, "Yeah, that was basically it. I mean, I knew from then I'd sort of resigned myself to the fact that I wasn't going to shoot, four, or five, under-par."
Quick to shake off the disappointment from Scotland, McIlroy alongside his spouse Erica Stoll and their young daughter Poppy jetted off to Portugal for a restorative family holiday. Fresh from his break by the Portuguese coasts, an invigorated McIlroy is set to embrace his second Olympic outing with aspirations of making Ireland beam with pride.
Trending window.topArticlesScript="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/js/dist/article-top-articles20240723.min.js"Despite narrowly missing out on a podium finish three years ago in Tokyo - where he lost the bronze in a dramatic seven-way playoff against CT Pan - McIlroy is undoubtedly seeking redemption on the grand Olympic stage.
Recenyly he has opened up about his choice to represent Ireland over Great Britain in the Olympics, explaining: "As I said, previously, once I left trying not to upset anyone aside, then it was actually a pretty easy decision. The decision was I'm going to play golf for the country or the nation that I've always played for through my junior and amateur days and now into the professional game. And that's Ireland."
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Rory McIlroy makes nostalgic training choice ahead of Paris Olympics showdown
Rory McIlroy makes nostalgic training choice ahead of Paris Olympics showdown
Rory McIlroy makes nostalgic training choice ahead of Paris Olympics showdown
Rory McIlroy makes nostalgic training choice ahead of Paris Olympics showdown
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