PORTRUSH, Northern IRELAND — E be like say no be juju wet dem dey use for this one, as our homeboy Rory McIlroy don land for Portrush ready to shine like the superstar wey him be. Just after him finish second for Scottish Open, him don wake up come 7 a.m. local time, only with four hours sleep and still ready to grab the golf world by the horns.
Fans dey trickle enter the grounds as McIlroy dey plot him way around Royal Portrush, the same course wey him set record for when him dey 16 years old. Na here, wey him dey tell us say he get green jacket wey him wear like say na him be king of the golf world!
“As I dey here for Portrush with the green jacket, I wan make sure say I enjoy every moment wey dey come, plus the reaction from fans,” McIlroy talk. But make nobody confuse am; he still wan win this tournament with all him power. “I sabi say I fit do am,” he add.
Abeg, make we remember wetin happen for 2019 Open Championship; McIlroy come with plenty hopes but unfortunately, him start off by hitting him first tee shot out of bounds and miss the cut. E no go happen like that again. He don change strategy this time, say he go embrace the love from the fans instead of trying to isolate himself. (Smart move wey you go follow since you wan collect trophy, abi?).
On Monday, McIlroy don show us say na who he be as he strike correct birdie putt wey make fans dey cheer like say dem don win lottery. He don sign plenty memorabilia, including one big Northern Ireland flag wey dem put “Rory Legend” on top. Who dey like that kind attention bad? Not me o!
With him current form, na perfect time for McIlroy to catch fire. After the Masters victory, plenty people dey expect say he go continue to dey dominate. “Change of scenery dey nice, I dey excited as my game don sharp again,” he talk with smile wey fit light up any dark room.
But make we no lie; Portrush no dey play o! The course dey demand plenty skills, whether na wind or rain wey go show face. McIlroy talk say he dey in a good headspace to take on everything wey dey come. He sabi say after playing under expectations at the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open, this one dey crucial: “This na the tournament I don dey look forward to since the calendar enter 2025. I don achieve one dream, but I get more to give. The story no finish.”
As the tournament dey approach, we all dey on the edge of our seats, hoping say McIlroy go show us wetin e fit do once again. We dey feel am, and the atmosphere? E dey sweet, like palm wine on a hot afternoon. To win for home no be small thing, and we no go lie, we all dey ginger am to collect that Claret Jug! Let the games begin!
