The golfer has struggled for form since his historic victory at The Masters in April that secured the career Grand Slam but is determined to end the major season on a high at Royal Portrush next month.

McIlroy, who finished in a tie for 19th at the US Open, said: "I climbed my Everest in April, and I think after you do something like that, you've got to make your way back down, and you've got to look for another mountain to climb.

"An Open at Portrush is certainly one of those."

He continued: "If I can't get motivated to get up for an Open Championship at home, then I don't know what can motivate me.

"I just need to get myself in the right frame of mind. I probably haven't been there the past few weeks.

"But getting home and having a couple of weeks off, hopefully feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, will get me in the right place again."

McIlroy failed to make the cut when The Open was last staged at Portrush in 2019 but recalled being moved to the brink of tears by the support from his home crowd.

The five-time major winner said: "I didn't realise how emotional I was going to be at Portrush. I think that was a thing I was unprepared for more than anything else.

"I remember I hit a shot into 12 or 13 on Friday, obviously trying to make the cut. I remember the roar I got when the ball hit the green, and I felt like I was about to burst into tears.

"That support and that love from your own people, I was unprepared for that. I need to get myself in the right frame of mind to feel those feelings again."