The people's champion

Scottie Scheffler will probably win The 153rd Open.

But there is no doubting that Rory McIlroy is the people's champion.

The Northern Irishman is the only show in town as far as the thousands of spectators are concerned.

He was the main focus of attention from the start of the week but, by the time of Saturday's third round at Royal Portrush, interest was at fever pitch.

No golfer currently playing the game comes close to the levels of adulation the Holywood man enjoys.

Even before he stepped on to the first tee in the early afternoon there was a buzz of anticipation, fans flooding the first to get the merest glimpse of the game's brightest star.

A controlled drive down the middle of the fairway led to an opening hole birdie which only served to heighten the excitement.

A second quickly followed and, in no time at all, he had registered three birdies in his opening four holes, only serving to heighten the buzz surrounding Northern Ireland's greatest ever sports person.

Backed by a vociferous following, McIlroy somehow managed to keep it together over the front nine before registering his first - and only - bogey of the day on 11.

He responded brilliantly by bagging an eagle at the very next hole before safely negotiating his way through a difficult back nine to sign for a five under 66.

But that only tells part of the story. Anyone lucky enough to have followed him or caught glimpses of him through the thronging crowd can bear testament to a man straining every sinew to give the people what they wanted.

And, okay, it might not have yielded what he wanted - Scheffler is just too darned good to let slip a commanding lead - but, by heck, it was fun to watch.

Which is kinda' the point.

Any sport needs eyes on the product and, in the five times major winner and grand slam champion, golf has it all - talent, charisma, pizazz, likeability, call it what you want.

He starts the final day still some way short of the leader who produced a flawless performance in battling both the Dunluce Links and a partisan home crowd.

Scheffler is 1/7 ON with the bookies to claim a fourth major and it would be a major surprise, pun intended, should he not get the job done.

But that won't stop the hordes of McIlroy fans turning up in hope more than expectation on Sunday at the climax of what has been another memorable Open on the north coast.

And I would hazard a guess that, even in defeat, Rory's efforts will win him the hearts of the Irish sporting public in a way few others can.