PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Rory McIlroy practically had Royal Portrush all to himself Monday morning, but not for long. By the time he finished his first practice round for the British Open — his first time back on these links in 2,187 days — there was a big crowd that weathered rain and sunshine to see him finish.

You wouldn't have necessarily picked Northern Ireland as the lab to create one of the greatest drivers of the golf ball of all time. But in retrospect it makes sense. Rory McIlroy's game doesn't resemble the stereotypical wind-formed,