ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — Dustin Johnson and Scottie Scheffler were laughing about something. Their caddies were, too. That can happen during a third round, even at a major championship. They were much closer to the lead then, too, but that was about to change.
Straddling his bunkered golf ball 70 yards away from them, Rory McIlroy splashed out onto a little knob of the green. If you haven’t seen the clips already, get thee to a highlight reel. It checked, released, and dropped into the hole for an eagle. Johnson and Scheffler had no choice but to keep laughing. The grandstand next to them erupted. Their man making that shot on this course in The Open? Random acts of life feel scripted sometimes, and this was one of them.
Viktor Hovland, playing alongside McIlroy, called the shot “filthy,” even though his solo lead was no longer his solo lead. The crowd chanted his name with every step he took up to reclaim his ball, but he tried to keep his actions muted. Play had to resume, and Johnson was waiting for some quiet to play his shot.
It should be clear at home because it’s damn clear at the Old Course: a Rory McIlroy party has commenced, with the man of the hour tied for the lead with Hovland at 16 under. One spectator spoke loud enough above the horde on 10: “That was the best thing I’ve seen in the history of golf.” Forgive his hyperbole, but also forgive the crowd. They clearly want this, too. To be able to say they saw McIlroy win an Open at St. Andrews. To leap over the Swilcan Burn Sunday afternoon, just as fans did for Tiger Woods in 2000. Scheffler was asked afterward if it felt like there’s a crowd favorite at this event. “Yes,” he said, chuckling in bewilderment. In any other scenario, we would all laugh at how silly the question was. But in the interview setting, Scheffler’s is the only voice that counts.
“Isn’t it Rory?” he said. “I was like, they’re chanting his name out there. I think he’s definitely a crowd favorite. How can you not root for Rory?”
How can you not? He’s the most eloquent speaker in men’s golf, swooning the press. He’s a champion many times over, pulling in the golf history fiends. With those manners and morals, he’s definitely winning Best Golfer to Bring Home to Your Parents. There’s a gracefulness to his intensely powerful swing, mixed in with enough “How could you do that?” moments. Science, suspense, relatability. It’s all lining up this week.
Here at The Open, you can measure a player’s importance by their reception on the 18th hole. Look no further than what we saw for Woods and Phil Mickelson Friday. If the grandstands swell with bodies, that’s a good sign. If the throngs chant your name like it’s the only word they know, even better. If they sprint in from the rest of the course to secure a seat — or climb onto the side of the grandstands, like they did for Woods — you’re a special chap. If Peyton and Eli Manning squint into the sun, best they can from their VIP hotel balcony, just trying to get a glimpse of you? Celeb status, too! But perhaps the best (and most subtle) sign of McIlroy’s importance came from Martin Slumbers, CEO of the R&A, Friday night.
