Rory McIlroy returns home for Irish Open looking to regain long-lost momentum

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Rory McIlroy has missed the cut in four of his last five tournaments and lost his No. 1 ranking to Luke Donald.

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Associated Press 

Series: European Tour

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland -- Backed by record galleries and buoyed by his stunning feats here as a 16-year-old rising star, Rory McIlroy heads into the Irish Open at Royal Portrush intent on reviving his stuttering season and winning his home tournament for the first time.

McIlroy has missed the cut in four of his last five tournaments and lost his No. 1 ranking to Luke Donald.

However, memories of an 11-under 61 on the links course in suburban Antrim during the 2005 North of Ireland Championship are spurring McIlroy. If he makes the cut, he'll be performing before sellout crowds of 27,000 all four days of the tournament, a first for the European Tour.

''The last couple of years, I didn't really enjoy the tag of home favorite, I just didn't feel very comfortable with it,'' McIlroy said. ''This year I really want to embrace that.''

He'll be joined by fellow countrymen and major winners Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell when Northern Ireland hosts the Irish Open for the first time since 1953.

McDowell arrives after a second-place finish at the recent U.S. Open, while Clarke knows the course well after relocating to the area from London four years ago. Clarke claims the move was a big factor behind his win at the British Open last year.

''It's almost got an Open feel, which is what I think the course deserves. It's just a very special place,'' said Clarke, who hasn't finished better than 20th at a tournament since his victory at Royal St. George's last July.

However, most eyes will be on the second-ranked McIlroy, the winner of the 2011 U.S. Open.

His consistent form from the start of 2012 deserted him, failing to make the weekend at his last event in Europe, the flagship PGA Championship at Wentworth and the U.S. Open in San Francisco.

''I've put 10 days of really good work in. My game feels good,'' said the 23-year-old McIlroy. ''It actually felt pretty good at the U.S. Open.

''I felt like it was starting to come around. In a way it couldn't be a better time to come back here and play Portrush. It brings back so many good memories, and you can feed off that, and that gives you some confidence.''

With the British Open less than a month away, the Irish Open gives players some timely experience of links golf. The forecast is for wind and rain, conditions Clarke usually relishes.

Two-time British Open champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland is also in the field, along with PGA 

Ravens Weigh in on Phelps' Golds

Posted Aug 18, 2008

By Mike Duffy



As Baltimore native Michael Phelps racked up eight gold medals, the Ravens were watching.


As Baltimore native Michael Phelps racked up an unprecedented eight gold medals and seven world records at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, many Ravens were keeping a close eye on what the swimmer was accomplishing.



Phelps’ final race was even broadcast over the SmartVision boards at M&T Bank Stadium Saturday night after the Ravens’ preseason contest against the Minnesota Vikings to the delight of the thousands of fans that remained post-game.

Here is what was said in Monday’s locker room about Phelps’ incredible feats:



K Matt Stover



On Phelps’ medal count: “I’ve met him a couple of times on the sideline. I’m so proud of him, and he’s a Ravens fan, so that is an added bonus. He’s down to Earth. He seems to have a certain humility to him. He’s been beaten before - not many times - but when he has, it’s taught him.

“He’s got this passion and spirit that you need to have to be able to go out and compete like he does. His competitive spirit is unmatched in any Olympics I’ve ever seen.”

On if he would place Michael Phelps in with the greatest athletes of all time: “Oh, absolutely. He’s got to be in the top three athletes in the world of all-time because of what he’s been able to accomplish. And, he’s a young guy. It’s not like he’s 40, like me. [laughter].

“He’s been able to accomplish that very quickly, and that just shows his resilience and ability to keep everything in perspective, along with his composure. Sometimes, the youth can bring about some bad things in these situations, but he’s got his head on squarely. You can’t say enough about a guy like that.”

LB Bart Scott



On Phelps winning all the individual events in which he participated: “It’s like boxing, where it’s pretty much competing against yourself. In a lot of those races, he doesn’t have a teammate to lean on, so it’s tremendous. We rely on the team. It’s amazing! Competing against the best in the world and still being able to break that record is tremendous.”

On how he respects what Phelps’ put his body through after a grueling eight races: “Absolutely. That’s like us playing three consecutive games. To be able to race every day and having to qualify and all that, I don’t know how he did it. He must have the strong mind and spirit to compete at such a high level.”



LB Terrell Suggs



On Phelps’ accomplishments: “That’s amazing. It was like watching history right before your eyes for him to be breaking records and keep going in there and knocking it out and winning by miles and then winning by inches. It was an emotional roller coaster. It was just an exciting thing to see. He was waving all those [medals] and was like ‘I’d rather watch the Ravens play than enjoy my medals.’ I was like ‘Are you crazy?’”



On Phelps’ place in history: “He’s just an amazing athlete. This year alone he’s put himself up there with the Michael Jordans and the Tiger Woods, and it’s just amazing what he’s doing. To know that he’s a Ravens fan is even better. He gets to come home, and we get to play in front of him. That will be kind of awesome in and of itself. I think it’s really cool what he’s doing.”



QB Joe Flacco



On his reaction to the Phelps phenomenon: “I have to admit, it’s pretty exciting to have a guy like that from this area put on such a show. I saw a few of his events live, and then caught a few on replay. The one close relay and his butterfly race were incredible. It was just crazy that he could win when it was so close.”

On if he could challenge the 6-foot-4 Phelps to a swimming race: “Absolutely not. I would sink like a rock. Maybe he can give me some tips next time he’s on the sideline.”