RORY MILLROY still resents the football injury that he sustained while trying to defend his title at The Open.

The Northern Irishman insists that he can't allow himself to see it as "the one who got away" as he tries to stop his Major drought from extending into a ninth.

McIlroy is a favorite for the 150th Open this Week. He was considered the man to beat at ANY Major prior to he ruptured his ankle ligaments while playing with friends in July 2015.

He was scheduled to travel to St Andrews on the same day. This was a continuation of a hot streak that saw him win The Open at Royal Liverpool the previous year and the USPGA in the previous.

McIlroy, 33 years old, admitted that the setback caused him to lose the "sense invincibility" that he once had. He has clearly lost his swagger.

The 2014 USPGA win was his most recent Major win. World No 2 Daniilenko said that it "certainly halted my momentum at the Majors."

"After the 2014 Masters, I was fourth and made a run for the US Open in 2015. So I won two Majors in succession and was very close in the other.

"That feeling of invincibility, that sense of giving yourself chance after chance in the Majors. It didn't disappear, but I remember turning up to Majors feeling like I had a chance.

It's a mindset thing. A confidence thing. Perhaps my confidence was just a bit shaken by that episode. Since then, I have avoided football completely. I do not want to repeat that mistake. I am proud to not make the same mistakes twice. Although I have played other sports in the past, I never played football.

McIlroy's only Open appearance at Old Course in 12 years is now a week off. This track was one of his favorite tracks.

He set a course record of 63 in the first round, followed by an 80 and finished joint third behind runway winner Louis Oosthuizen.

McIlroy celebrated the US Open's first Major victory 13 months later.

McIlroy has returned to St Andrews every year since, where he partnered his father in the pro am at the Dunhill Links Championship.

He can't believe it has been so long since he won the Claret Jug.

He said, "Twelve Years Ago, is that what it was?" Wow! It makes me so excited to return to St Andrews for an Open.

"I should have been the defending champion in 2015. "I should have been the defending champion in 2015." But it's not like I have any unfinished business at this course. I don't need to put more pressure on myself.

McIlroy prefers McIlroy to focus on the 2010 memories of the opening 63.

He said, "It's up among my finest rounds. St Andrews is a course I have always enjoyed playing well. The course has always been a place where I felt at home.

"The way that I play makes me feel like I have the best chance of winning an Open since I can recall.

"St Andrews will feel like the defense I never had." Then, hopefully, I will be defending Royal Liverpool in 2023."