The Open 2012: Rory McIlroy insists he has what it takes to win Claret Jug

RORY McILROY insists he can handle The Open and is capable of one day winning the Claret Jug.

RORY McILROY insists he can handle The Open and is capable of one day winning the Claret Jug.

The world No.2 endured a another miserable week on British links as he faded badly at Royal Lytham.

McIlroy was in contention going into day two after a first-round 67 but fell apart on Friday and was only around at the weekend to make up the numbers.

The Northern Irish ace, who never looked at ease in the last three days, shot a third successive over-par round yesterday to finish well down the pack at eight over.

After flopping at Sandwich 12 months ago, McIlroy spat the dummy and said it wasn’t worth changing his entire game just to suit The Open.

Another poor week in the oldest Major has reopened the debate on whether he’ll ever get his hands on the famous Jug.

But the 23-year-old, who won the US Open at Congressional last year, insists there’s no jinx and nothing about The Open which makes him feel particularly uncomfortable.

McIlroy said: “I feel like I can win in any given week if I play well and I feel all the Majors are equal.

“If I’d been asked a few years ago about the hardest Major to win, I’d have said the US Open with the way it is set up. But I just got a US Open where it was a bit softer and I was more aggressive.

“No Major is tougher for me than any of the others. I treat them all equally and try to go out and do the best I can every time.

“You’ve just got to beat the other guys who are playing but the big thing for me is to stay patient.

“It’s a 20-year career so I’m not going to get too wound up over a few weeks.”