Ahead of Europe’s ill-fated defence of the Ryder Cup in the United States last year, the possible combination of Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland was seen as a dream pairing.
Alas, Padraig Harrington never put them together in a contest that turned out to be emphatically one-sided.
But on a sun-kissed St Andrews Saturday, they walked side-by-side, flying the European flag at the top of a leaderboard dominated by Americans and an Australian when play began. And they will be flying it again in what promises to be an enthralling final round.
McIlroy is very much the present of European golf, Hovland is very much its future. In fact, there are some good judges who fancied the 24-year-old Norwegian to win a Major before now.
And, of course, there are many good judges who simply cannot believe McIlroy has not won a Major in eight years. Watching them in tandem in a compelling third round, it was hard to think of two better strikers of a golf ball.
It was, though, easy to think of a better putter than McIlroy as he missed good chances on the first four holes. But patience is the key in links golf. Well, let’s face it, in any golf, and that is what these two seem to have in some considerable measure.
Maybe it’s his settled family life, maybe it’s simply that he is a bit older, but that is a new thing for McIlroy. Not only did he have to deal with the pressure and the expectation of the galleries - and the expectation of the home nations and beyond - but there was also the slightly discomforting sight of police officers and security men chaperoning the group.
Apparently, there were fears of protesters making some sort of incursion. It seems, though, that nothing fazes this latest version of Rory McIlroy.
So when the birdie opportunities slipped by, McIlroy kept the same rhythm, had the same relaxed demeanour, enjoyed the same chit-chats with young Viktor. There was not just brilliance in the European group, there was bromance, the pair fist-bumping on the 11th tee.
Why? Because on the 10th hole, McIlroy had holed out from a bunker for an eagle and Hovland had drained a 15-footer for another birdie and their names were twinned at the very top of the leaderboard. For good measure, the world number one Scottie Scheffler had been standing - waiting to tee off - and watching and acknowledging McIlroy’s excellence with a knowing smile.
Too much can be made of the significance of pairings but there is no doubt McIlroy and Hovland fed off each other’s sparkling play. And there is no doubt McIlroy likes to be in relaxing company as he swaggers his way around the golf course.
Whether or not he will be quite as relaxed on Sunday afternoon is another matter. For a player of his breath-taking ability, to go eight years without a Major is remarkable. When he won The Open in 2014 and followed it up a month later with a victory at the US PGA Championship at Valhalla, the only debate was about how many more he would add to his collection of four.
Yet to this point, none. If that changes on Sunday night, it could lead to another flurry over the next couple of years but that will not be in McIlroy’s mind.
To lift the Claret Jug, he will have to see off a group of truly elite players, including his pal Hovland. In the closing holes, the bonhomie, understandably, took a backseat and the game-faces were well and truly on.
But if either McIlroy or Hovland do eventually triumph, they will surely acknowledge the companionship of the other. Because on a lovely day, they did not so much as have a duel in the sun as fun in the sun. And it was beautiful to watch.
