Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland lead the British Open ahead of the last 18 holes at St. Andrews

Tiger Woods’s salute at Swilcan Bridge on Friday had the flavor of a farewell. Whether or not he recovers from the effects of last year’s car accident, it’s clear that feats like the 2019 Masters have receded into the realm of implausibility. Matching him seems impossible, but golf is hungry for a successor. The list of candidates is long and includes a good number of emerging players who quickly showed the quality and mettle to win big tournaments. All three majors this year went to players under 30, as did five of the top six in the 150th Open Championship. The exception is Rory McIlroy, who has been threatening to take over for some time.

McIlroy took an important step yesterday in trying to get closer to that goal by storming the lead at St. Andrews with a big lap of 66 and going -16. To achieve this, he will have to assert his greatest experience in this type of definitions and on this court before a large and youthful group of followers. The biggest threat is the Norwegian Viktor Hovland (24 years old), who played with him, signed a card with the same final score and shares the lead. In the last 18 holes they will go out again as a couple, at 12:50 (Argentine time). Four strokes away (-12), an advantage that is not impossible to discount on a course that appears accessible, appear Cameron Young (25) and Cameron Smith (28), who yesterday fell behind with laps of 71 and 73, respectively. Fifth with one more hit are Scottie Scheffler (26) and Korean Si Woo Kim (27).

Rory is not only the favorite because of his background, he is also the favorite of the public. ANDhe Northern Irishman aroused applause more typical of a soccer field than a golf link. The explosion that was experienced when he holed the 10th hole from the bunker at the entrance to the green (about 25 meters) was very similar to a goal shout. “Rooory, Rooory”, people began to sing. With that eagle he jumped to the top, which he would keep until the end.

“The support they gave me this week was absolutely incredible,” McIlroy said. “I appreciate it and I feel it out there, but at the same time I try my best to stay in my own little world because it’s the best way to get the best out of me.”

At 33, he’s looking for his fifth major, a figure second only to Tiger and Phil Mickelson among tour regulars, if they can still be placed on that list. Only Brooks Koepka matches him among the assets. However, the majors are an obsession that has eluded him since he won the PGA Championship in Valhalla in 2014.

This Sunday he will need more shots like that, or birdies like the ones on the par 5 on the 14th, when he hooked the tee shot but the ball was perfect on the fairway of the adjacent hole (the 5th) and the second shot hit favorably twice to land near the flag. On a course that, without wind and with hard fairways, becomes extremely short for professionals, good scores are for those who want to take them. On Saturday, for example. Kevin Kisner jumped from last place to 13th after a round of 65 (-7), which included seven birdies in the first 10 holes.

The biggest contender is Norway’s Hovland, the youngest of the pursuers. Although he is one of the entertainers on the PGA Tour (three titles), he had as a pending account to be a protagonist in a major. The question is how he will deal with that pressure, on top of playing alongside a Rory with all the support of the people. Nor can you rule out those who come after. Cameron Smith is one of the players of the year, with two titles, including The Players. Cameron Young was already close at the PGA Championship and is number one for rookie of the year. Scheffler is number 1 in the world, the only one who won four titles in the season, including the Masters. The only one who does not arrive “on” is Si Woo Kim, remembered champion of Players 2017.

What approach will Rory go out with on the last lap? “I think it’s important to appreciate the moment and the fact that it’s amazing to have a chance to win at St. Andrews,” replied the 2014 Open champion at Royal Liverpool. “That’s what dreams are made of. And I’m going to try to make it happen.”