Rory McIlroy came close to finishing among the leaders in the first round of the Open, but the back nine proved it can be a tough challenge for anyone.

The 153rd Open Championship takes place at Royal Portrush for the third time this year. The north Antrim course last hosted the tournament in 2019, with Ireland’s Shane Lowry lifting the Claret Jug. That came 68 years after the course first hosted the tournament,

Just as a certain Northern Irishman’s golf ball flew left, but not too far left, and safely settled in the rough, the sun peeked ou

McIlroy, playing with Justin Thomas and Tommy Fleetwood, is one of the early starters in Friday’s second round and sits just three shots behind the leaders overnight, with world No 1 Scottie Scheffler,