For Rory McIlroy, It All Started at Royal Portrush

At the 17th hole there was a wait when players gathered at the tee. McIlroy stepped away to take some exercise swings.

"I think I was probably caught when I thought about it a bit too much," he said. "I wanted to freshen up my head a little and start again with a new wave."

McIlroy returned to the tee and hit a perfect ride, followed by a long iron to the right front of the green and a two-putt for birdie. He closed the round with a final birdie and played a 61, breaking the previous record of 64 set by Randal Evans in 2002.

"I had that confidence and the guts on 16," he said. "Sometimes I have to rediscover that."

Royal Portrush has two links courses: the Dunluce links and Valley links. The Open, which starts on Thursday, is played at Dunluce, on a par 72 course of 7317 yard designed by Harry Colt.

[Read more on how the British Open finally returned to Royal Portrush after almost 70 years.]

Royal Portrush previously organized the British Open in 1951. The club also held the Irish Open in 2012, where McIlroy equaled 10 with 11 under. It has changed somewhat since his track record, with golf architect Martin Ebert updating it to meet championship standards.

McIlroy played the front nine last Saturday, including the new seventh and eighth holes.

"He just played them all by himself," said McNeill, the club pro. "He was really excited. He buzzed."

McIlroy called the new eighth hole, a par 4 in 430 yards, "a huge improvement."

There are two bunkers to contend with. . "You have two options," he said. "You can take the bunkers out of the game or take the bunkers out of the game for a long time. Most boys sit down for a long time." McIlroy played long.

He recognized the pressure to act for crowds of people in the hometown.

"I never thought I'd play an Open Championship at home in Northern Ireland," he said recently. "It's going to be huge. That week has been earmarked for a long time. It will be one of those weeks in which I have to have the chance to play for my place of birth, not to try too hard and not to put myself under pressure. Just go out and enjoy it, because it may be the only time I can do it. "