IT’S AN OPEN & SHUT CASE

Mcilroy confirms golf’s worst kept secret.. he will miss Lahinch to prepare for Portrush

RORY MCILROY is putting The Open championship’s historic return to Portrush ahead of everything this year - including the US Masters and the Irish Open. World number eight Mcilroy’s confirmation yesterday that he was skipping Lahinch a fortnight out from the British Open confirmed the fears of many in Irish golf, including his former Ryder Cup skipper Paul Mcginley – who is this year’s Irish Open host.

Famously, the 29-yearold doesn’t pander to anyone or to any cause that doesn’t suit his own

– as he illustrated three years ago in withdrawing from Ireland’s team for the

Rio Olympics.

“I’m sure people are going to be upset but at the same time, if it means that it gives me a better chance to win The Open, and prepare well for Portrush, I’m going to do it,” Mcilroy stated.

“I’m going to make decisions that are the best thing for me.

“If that upsets anyone, then I’m sorry – that’s not my problem, that’s their problem.

“If I could pick one tournament to win this year, it would be Portrush. I would definitely have Augusta on the backburner.

“I never thought I would play a major in Northern Ireland. It would be the biggest achievement of my career if I was able to win it.”

So, for the first time since he teed it up as as a teenage amateur in 2007, Mcilroy has turned down an invite to play in his national Open.

He transformed the fortunes of the flagging tournament four years ago by coming on board as host, drawing big names such as Rickie Fowler and John Rahm to these shores and bagging Dubai Duty Free as a lucrative sponsor.

He even won it outright in a dramatic finale at the K Club in 2016. Last year it was announced that hosting duties will henceforth be shared on a rotational basis by Mcginley (left), Padraig Harrington, Graeme Mcdowell, Darren Clarke and Mcilroy. Winning a second Claret Jug as the Open championship returns to the Causeway coast for the first time since 1951 is everything to him.

And willl be the Scottish Open that benefits instead of his own as he plans to play tournament golf the week before the four majors.

“If there’s ever a year when I feel I can miss this Irish Open, it’s this year,” he explained.

“If I was to play the Irish Open, The Open championship would be my third event in a row.

“For me, that’s not the best way to prepare for what could be the biggest event of my life.”