Rory McIlroy winning Irish Open would have huge significance for Paul McGinley
Paul McGinley believes winning this week's Irish Open would be hugely important to Rory McIlroy, especially when looking ahead to next year's Open Championship "up the road" at Royal Portrush.
McIlroy has played himself into contention at Royal County Down, reaching the halfway stage on four-under-par, one shot behind early clubhouse leader Laurie Canter.
It has been a difficult season for the 35-year-old, whose wait for a major continues after coming up agonisingly short at the US Open earlier this year.
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Former Ryder Cup captain McGinley says McIlroy's record speaks for itself, but accepts the major drought is something the 35-year-old will be determined to end, and soon.
And he believes victory at this week's Irish Open would be ideal timing when looking ahead to the 2025 season, and returning to Royal Portrush next summer.
McGinley told Sky Sports: "The bigger picture is that his career the past 10 years has been fantastic in terms of what tournaments he's won, but the big glaring miss is obviously the major championships.
"We have the Open coming up the road at Royal Portrush next year in front of his home crowd, as he has this week. And should he go on and win this week and perform well on a difficult golf course in difficult conditions, that's the shot in the arm, confidence wise, that Rory needs.
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"Every player needs confidence and you get that from validation of doing something in a certain situation. So should Rory go on and win in front of his home crowd, on a brilliant links golf course like Royal County Down is, that will set him up psychologically when he takes on a similar situation, but obviously bigger stakes, at the Open Championship next year at Royal Portrush.
"So it's important in that context."
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