The Open / Bill Elliott / 12 July 2009 / Leave a Comment

It's a big ask but, two years after he finished as best amateur at the Open, the brightest young player in golf has the self-belief required to land his first major at Turnberry, says Bill Elliott.

So what does a young man do when he has just bought himself a Ferrari F430 and a labradoodle puppy?

How about winning The Open?

This would be some summer hat-trick of major acquisitions for Rory McIlroy but for this Belfast boy anything appears to be possible as Starship Golf lands for its biggest week at Turnberry on the Ayrshire coast.

And, have no doubts, despite a vaguely disappointing performance at Loch Lomond where his mind was clearly elsewhere, McIlroy believes he can pull it off.

"My biggest strength is probably my belief in myself, " he says. "I have inner confidence and I believe in myself 100 per cent so that when I arrive on the first tee I feel I'm always going to do very well.

"I had that feeling as an amateur and that's why I did so well but I didn't have it at first as a pro. Now I do. It's come back because I've been playing well, because I've now played with a lot of the top guys and seen that I'm close to them as a player.

"What I also know is that playing at Turnberry will inspire me. I love the big weeks, the crowds, the noise, everything. It lifts me, helps me focus. Turnberry promises to be brilliant and I can't wait for it to start."

He spent two days at Turnberry last week, two practice rounds that convinced him of two things - (a) Turnberry is an outstanding venue for The Open and (b) it promises to be one heck of a test.

"If you don't hit fairways then you aren't going to win this Open, " he warned. "Because of the weather we've had, the rough is very thick. I lost two balls there this week when I played but it's not ridiculous because they have graduated the rough. You don't need to be far off line to be in big trouble though."

He says also that he was lucky to play in two different wind conditions during his practice rounds. He is right to think this. Wind is the big protector of any links and Turnberry's revamped course - more bunkers than ever - can be a beast if the air starts to hurtle in off the Irish Sea.

If that happens then McIlroy insists he is ready for the challenge. Now 20, he has enjoyed a stellar season. Top 20 in his first Masters was followed by top 10 in his first US Open. This, of course, is only his second Open - he was leading amateur at Carnoustie two years ago - and the signs are that he is ready to at least contend properly.

This is a big ask of course but his youthful enthusiasm for the coming battle is as contagious as it is refreshing. Taken out of context his confidence could be misconstrued as a misplaced arrogance but somehow Rory manages to tiptoe along the narrow line that is marked 'Sensible'.

"I've only been a professional for less than two years, " he grins. "But I think I've not only improved as a player but I've matured as a person which I suppose you'd expect at my age. I'm more in control of my game and more in control of my emotions.

"Most of all, I'm more patient and I know that's what you need to win majors. Par is always a good score at these weeks. Padraig (Harrington) always says that and I've taken it on board."

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