It was a return six years in the making, and it was a return that perfectly encapsulated Rory McIlroy. Making the trek back to Royal Portrush for The Open Championship -- now as a career grand slam winner -- the Northern Irishman experienced a topsy-turvy day as the hard stuff came easy and the easy stuff came hard.

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,

Rory McIlroy remains in the mix after a topsy-turvy start to his Open Championship at Royal Portrush. The pressure got the better of the Northern Irishman the last time the tournament was held in his home country,

The final major of the season is here. Follow along for live updates, scores, highlights and more from the first round of the 2025 British Open.

Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy addresses the crowd's presence after Round One of The 2025 Open Championship

Rory McIlroy opened up on his disastrous start to the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, admitting he "tries to forget" about his first round at the event as Graeme McDowell places his bets on