Rory McIlroy has fond memories of the last time Carnoustie Golf Links hosted the Open Championship and he is keen to create more as golf's oldest Major returns to Scotland's east coast 11 years on.
The Northern Irishman was an 18 year old amateur when he finished in a tie for 42nd at the 136th edition of The Open in 2007 to land the Silver Medal.
McIlroy went on to lift the Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool in 2014 and the World Number Eight would love to repeat that feat at Carnoustie this week.
He said: "I have lots of great memories - it's great to be back. It doesn't seem like 11 years ago that The Open was here last.
"Hopefully I can create some more good memories this week. I obviously remember that week very fondly for different reasons. I hadn't even turned pro yet and didn't know what to expect or the journey that I was about to embark on.
"So to be back and be in a different position, it feels good, and to be talked about as one of the guys that could win, and to already have a Claret Jug is very nice, but obviously I want to add to my collection.
"It would be nice to win at Carnoustie, where I was able to pick up a Silver Medal a few years ago.
"I think sometimes I need to get back to that attitude where I play care-free and I'm just happy to be here. It was my first Open Championship, I was just trying to soak everything in and I was just so grateful to be here.
"I think sometimes with, you know, the pressure that's maybe put on the top guys to perform at such a high level every week, that starts to weigh on you a little bit.
"But, yeah, I look back at those pictures, and the more I can be like that kid, the better."
McIlroy believes adaptability will be the key to success on a tough links course this week and expects every player to tinker with their game plans as the tournament progresses.
He added: "I think with links golf, you have to adapt. I think there's not going to be one player in this field that has a game plan on Wednesday night and is going to stick to that game plan the whole way around for 72 holes.
"It's just not going to happen with wind conditions, with pins. You might start to feel a little bit more comfortable with a few shots, and you might start to take some on.
"It's going to be really interesting, I think, because the golf course is playing so firm and fast.
"There are some guys that will see it completely differently to the way I see it and vice versa. It's going to be really interesting to see how it all plays out."
With the Open heading to Royal Portrush Golf Club next year, McIlroy is dreaming of returning to home soil as the defending champion.
"If I were to head to Portrush with a Claret Jug in my possession, I'd obviously be very happy and be very proud to be the defending champion at a golf course that I know very well and playing in front of home fans," said McIlroy, who has finished first, fifth and fourth in his last three appearances at The Open.
"If it all worked out like that this week, I'd be one very happy man heading out of here."
