Ryder Cup legend Sam Torrance believes Rory McIlroy is playing the best golf of his career and he will be hard to beat at The Open Championship next week, despite his heartbreak at the US Open.
McIlroy has spent almost a month on hiatus since losing out to Bryson DeChambeau by one shot at Pinehurst No. 2 last month, with the Northern Irishman's 10-year wait to taste major glory again prolonged by two brutal bogeys in his final three holes in North Carolina.
In response to the lowest moment of his career, the world No. 2 has gone off the grid before returning to action at the Scottish Open this week as he defends his title at The Renaissance Club.
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But Torrance, the victorious 2002 Ryder Cup captain and a 21-time European Tour winner, believes McIlroy has every chance of claiming his fifth major at Royal Troon next week.
"Nobody is playing better than Rory, Torrance told the Sky Sports Golf Podcast. "US Open, how he didn’t win… That putt at 18, we saw that from the perfect camera angle. It started a good three inches left of the hole and still missed right from what, two feet?
"The poor wee soul. The same at St Andrews when he lost to Cam Smith. He didn’t even get second place. I don’t think Rory has ever felt better or ever swung it better. He’s a very disciplined human being and I think he will be tough [to beat]."
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World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is set to start the 152nd Open as a significant favourite with the bookmakers after claiming six PGA Tour wins already this season, including The Masters and The Players. But Torrance believes Royal Troon will provide a different test to anything the American has encountered this season.
"The elements that The Open Championship brings in, there is nothing like it," the Scotsman explained. "Yes, at the US Open you can get some horrific conditions, but you’re in Scotland here. It can be horrific and it can be a five or six-shot swing from playing in the morning to the afternoon. But Scheffler has got a great mind and a great game."
Torrance's sentiments were shared by fellow Sky Sports pundit John E. Morgan, who believes the Claret Jug will be lifted by a man from this side of the Atlantic.
"We’re talking about links golf," Morgan said. "We’re talking about a different kettle of fish compared to the kind of courses we have seen [Scheffler] dominate this year and last year. I think the field is more open, wide open, especially if it’s hard and bouncy which I think it might be.
"I think we definitely get a European or British winner this time. I really believe it. I think momentum is in our favour and I can’t see past that."