The Open can leave a lasting legacy for Northern Ireland – McIlroy

The rain that hit the training day on Wednesday is likely to linger around all the weekend

The legacy of bringing The Open to Northern Ireland for the first time in 68 years will be more than golf for the country, says Rory McIlroy

Royal Portrush organizes its first Open since 1951 this week, the first outside of England and Scotland since then.

McIlroy says the staging of the major at the County Antrim location "speaks volumes for where the country is".

"Sport has an incredible ability to bring people together. They have gone further. It's another time," he said.

"We all know that this country sometimes needs That has the ability to do that.

" Speaking of legacy, that could be the biggest impact of this non-sporting tournament , apart from everything else, is the fact that people come here to enjoy it. and have a good time. "

McIlroy says, growing just outside of Belfast in Hollywood, he has never witnessed the conflicts – which lasted about 30 years until the Good Friday agreement in 1998.

" It's so & # 39; n great place, nobody cares about who they are, where they come from, what background they come from, but you can live a great life and it doesn't matter which side of the street you come to, "he added

"To have this tournament here again, I think it speaks volumes about where the country and where the people who live here are now. We have passed so long and that is something wonderful. "

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of a 194500 in the900 -3-year-olds [1945900] of a 194500 at the age of 16009 in a 194500 in the [19459] I think his legacy may consist of young boys and girls who like to pick up and play a golf club, "said the 30-year-old.

" Golf is an accessible sport here. I'm lucky that I grew up here because it was so accessible and you didn't have to get anything from money or anything to play the game.

"Whatever happens this week, if I win or whoever else wins, having The Open in this country is a huge thing for golf and it will be a huge thing for the country."