His challenge ended almost as soon as it began, a quadruple bogey at the first and an eight-over 79 first round ending any hopes of lifting the Claret Jug for the second time.
Instead, it was McIlroy’s great friend Shane Lowry who was crowned Champion Golfer, winning his first major by six strokes from Tommy Fleetwood. With the course having been remodelled to welcome back The Open, McIlroy’s record could not be beaten.
Lowry chose the Saturday in 2019 to set a new mark on the new course, shooting a remarkable 63 which took him from a share of the lead with JB Holmes to four shots clear heading into the final round.
Unlike at Oakmont at the US Open three years previously, Lowry never looked like relinquishing his lead and ended up triumphing by the largest winning margin in nine years. Both Lowry and McIlroy will return to Royal Portrush with dreams of lifting the Claret Jug.
Their form certainly suggests they should be in the mix, but recent Open history is not quite such a positive omen.
No European has won golf’s original major since Lowry with a trio of Americans, Collin Morikawa, Brian Harman and Xander Schauffele combining for three of the last four Open titles – Cameron Smith of Australia the exception to that rule in 2022.
Could that trend continue with Scottie Scheffler winning a second major this year after his PGA success at Quails Hollow? If he does so, he would be the first world No.1 to lift the Claret Jug since Tiger Woods at Royal Liverpool in 2006.