Rory McIlroy returns to Royal Portrush this week seeking redemption after missing the cut when The Open was last staged at the Northern Irish venue in 2019.
The world number two arrives as a transformed player, having completed the career Grand Slam with his Masters victory in April.
McIlroy became just the sixth player in history to achieve the feat, ending an 11-year wait for his fifth major title with a dramatic play-off victory at Augusta National.
Now he aims to add another chapter to his major success story by winning on home soil.
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The 36-year-old has circled this tournament on his calendar, with the homecoming opportunity holding special significance.
His 2019 campaign at Royal Portrush began disastrously with a quadruple-bogey on the opening hole and ended with a triple-bogey on the 18th, resulting in a first-round 79.
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The score was 18 shots worse than his course record 61 as a 16-year-old in 2005.
"I remember the ovation I got on the first tee on Thursday and not being prepared for it, not being ready for how I was going to feel or what I was going to feel," McIlroy admitted.
"Then the golf on Thursday feels like a bit of a blur. I try to forget that part of it."
Despite firing a second-round 65, he missed the cut.
McIlroy has adopted a different approach for this year's championship, choosing to embrace the crowd support rather than isolate himself.
"I think in 2019 I probably tried to isolate and I think it's better for everyone if I embrace it," he said.
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The Northern Irishman admitted struggling for motivation following his historic Masters triumph.
"This was the tournament that was circled, even more so than The Masters," McIlroy revealed in his pre-tournament press conference.
He has already received a hero's welcome, with large crowds gathering for his early-morning practice rounds on Monday and Tuesday.
McIlroy's form has improved following what he described as a "mini post-Masters slump".
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He finished tied-sixth at the Travelers Championship last month before claiming a share of second at the Genesis Scottish Open last week.
"I'm excited with where my game is," McIlroy insisted. "I felt like I showed some really good signs last week. I feel like I'm in a good spot. It's really nice to be back [at Royal Portrush] and obviously very excited."
A victory on Sunday would come exactly 11 years to the day since he last won The Open, delivering the home triumph that eluded him in 2019.