World No.2 Rory McIlroy not only has to deal with a bout of hay fever but also the overwhelming expectations of a home crowd as he seeks to capture a first ever Irish Open success.
McIlroy has again forgone competing in this week’s US PGA National at the Congressional Club in Maryland, and venue of his 2011 US Open success, to contest the Irish Open.
McIlroy was aged just 16, and in the middle of a prolific winning amateur career, when he made his Irish Open debut in 2005 on the same Carton House course that hosts this week’s event.
And while McIlroy has since won two Majors and eight other events around the globe, he dearly would love to add a first Irish Open victory to his golfing CV.
“Life has changed a little bit since 2005, as I remember getting kicked out of bars after missing the cut on the Friday night because I wasn’t old enough to drink,” he smiled.
“But it’s good to be back to Carton House as my first Irish Open was here, and it’s just great to again be playing in an Irish Open.”
However, McIlroy tees-up in the 2 million euros ($A2.85 million) tournament as the overwhelming crowd favourite and with organisers expecting to better last year’s 106,000 attendance at Royal Portrush.
McIlroy will play the opening two rounds alongside two former Irish Open winners in Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn (2005) and fellow Irishman Shane Lowry (2009).
Also in the field are fellow major champions, Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke, Jose Maria Olazabal, Paul Lawrie and Michael Campbell.
Welshman Jamie Donaldson, who captured a first Tour victory last year at Royal Portrush, is defending the title.