With all eyes on Portrush for The Open, Rory McIlroy's rarely discussed health condition has resurfaced in the media.
The 35-year-old player has a serious medical condition that needs to be carefully monitored and can become extremely dangerous.
Rory has previously discussed the condition that has to do with his heart, and is something he has lived with since he was 20.
Rory has Myocarditis, a condition that causes the inflammation of the heart muscle (the myocardium) that can hinder the heart's ability to pump blood.
It can be triggered by infection and cause chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeats, and in severe cases, it can weaken the heart so the body doesn't receive enough blood, and clots can form, leading to a stroke or heart attack.
In 2018, Rory opened up about how he had suffered a scare after a 'bad viral infection' a year and a half earlier.
Chatting to The Telegraph, he explained: 'I've got a bit of an irregularity with my heart that I have to keep on top of.
'I have a flat T-wave and I'll have to get an electrocardiogram (ECG) on my heart every six months and an MRI scan every year.
'I suffered a really bad viral infection in China 18 months ago, and they told me that's the reason that I have this thickening of my left ventricle, and there's a bit of scar tissue.
'For now, I just need to stay on top of it and have to stay fit. Hey, I was planning on doing that anyway.'
He also delved into his condition earlier in 2025 on the WHOOP podcast, saying: 'With myocarditis, if you're not hydrated enough or not getting enough magnesium, your heart can have a little arrhythmias that can be worrisome.'
Despite this, Rory has been keen to stress in the past that he doesn't want a big deal to be made of his Myocarditis.
'It's really not that big of a deal and nothing to worry about, apart from getting an annual check-up, like you should do anyway,' he said.
