logo
Home favourite Rory McIlroy falls short in bid for first-round Open lead

Home favourite Rory McIlroy falls short in bid for first-round Open lead

Irish Examiner17-07-2025
Rory McIlroy looked like delivering the show the thousands who had flocked to Royal Portrush to cheer their returning hero expected, only for his bid for the first-round Open lead to collapse in the space of four holes on the back nine.
The Northern Irishman from an hour down the road in Holywood rarely comes to these parts due to commitments on the PGA Tour and on his last competitive visit in 2019 went home early after missing the cut.
But, after teeing off at 3.10pm with a four-under-par target in his sights, he recovered from a bogey at the first – a three-shot improvement on six years ago when he went out of bounds – to have a crowd 10 deep in places buzzing in anticipation.
Rory McIlroy was cheered on by the fans at Royal Portrush (Peter Byrne/PA).
The 61 he shot as a 16-year-old on this course was never on the cards, but three under through 10, having hit just two fairways, raised the prospect of a memorable first day.
But over the course of the next four holes that waywardness off the tee took its toll with three bogeys, including one at the course's easiest hole, the par-five 11th, and only a 12-foot par save at the 15th prevented further damage.
There was a much-needed birdie from similar distance at the penultimate hole, having again gone left off the tee, and even though his 44-footer for a 69 grazed the cup at the 18th, the fans went home happy, with their man just three off the pace.
That was set by McIlroy's Ryder Cup team-mate Matt Fitzpatrick, whose 67 was the lowest opening round of his major career, world number 354 Jacob Skov Olesen, China's Li Haotong, South African Chris Bezuidenhout and American Harris English.
'I had it going three under through 10 and let a few slip around the middle of the round. I steadied the ship well and played the last four in one under and it was just nice to finish under par,' McIlroy said.
'It was a tough enough day, especially either chopping out of the rough or out of the fairway bunkers.'
Fitzpatrick, a former US Open champion, continued his upward trend following top-10 finishes in his last two events after an otherwise disappointing season, despite a joint-eighth place at May's US PGA.
The Sheffield golfer got off to a flying start with a 22-foot eagle putt at the second hole, but the highlight was a slam-dunk chip for birdie from the steep bank on the treacherous Calamity Corner par-three 16th.
'I felt like The Players was the lowest I've felt in my career,' Fitzpatrick, bidding to become the first English winner of The Open since Nick Faldo in 1992, said of missing the cut at Sawgrass in March.
'Statistically it could be the worst run that I've played as well. I just didn't feel good or know where it was going.
'Today I just felt like I did drove it well, approach play was good and chipped and putted well. It was just an all-around good day.'
Olesen, a Danish left-hander who won the Amateur Championship at Ballyliffin in Ireland last summer, only turned professional in November after earning his DP World Tour card.
That meant the 26-year-old had to sacrifice his amateur exemptions for this year's Masters and US Open, so this was only his second appearance at one of golf's premier events after his debut at Troon 12 months ago.
But he had no regrets about his decision, having come through qualifying a fortnight ago.
Matt Fitzpatrick was in a five-way share of the lead (Mike Egerton/PA).
'I think it would have been a different decision if I was 19 at the time, but getting out on tour has always been a dream of mine,' he said.
'I had already made the decision before even going to second stage of Q-school that, if I got through, it would be a no-brainer to turn pro.'
World number one Scottie Scheffler missed a birdie putt at the last which would have given him a share of the lead, but his 68 was the lowest score by a player who hit three or fewer fairways in The Open for last 25 years.
'When it's raining sideways it's actually, believe it or not, not that easy to get the ball in the fairway. Thank you guys all for pointing that out,' said the reigning US PGA champion.
Asked whether there was a shot he was really pleased with, he replied: 'No.'
English duo Tyrrell Hatton and Matthew Jordan, one of only two players in the field with top-10 Open finishes in the previous two years, were also three under, with 52-year-old compatriot Lee Westwood marking his 30th anniversary at the tournament with a two-under 69.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Seamus Power's impressive charge undone by late hiccup at 3M Open
Seamus Power's impressive charge undone by late hiccup at 3M Open

RTÉ News​

time5 hours ago

  • RTÉ News​

Seamus Power's impressive charge undone by late hiccup at 3M Open

Seamus Power is five strokes adrift of the lead heading into the weekend after a costly double-bogey at his last hole marred an otherwise fine second round at the 3M Open in Minnesota. The two-time PGA Tour winner recorded two eagles and four birdies to climb into the top-five before a wretched four-putt saw him fall five shots back from the leader, Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen. At four-under par overnight and starting on the back nine, Power got a quick start, birdieing the 10th and then draining a 12-footer for eagle on the 12th. Further birdies followed on the 18th and second before his sole dropped stroke on the par-4 third. He found another burst down the stretch, firing his second shot to the par-5 sixth into 16ft and sinking the putt. Another birdie putt fell at the seventh to take Power to 11-under. Much of that was undone following a disastrous ninth, the Waterford golfer missing a three-footer for bogey. Power, who last won on the PGA Tour at the 2022 Bermuda Championship, has endured an injury-hit season so far, withdrawing from both the Canadian Open and US Open qualifying. He has recorded one top-10 finish in 2025 with a tied-eighth showing at the Valspar Championship in late March. Olesen followed up his scintillating opening day 62 with a round of 66 to lead at the midway point at 14-under par, one stroke clear of Jake Knapp. American duo of Pierceson Coody and Sam Stevens are in tied-third on 12-under.

Rory McIlroy hailed for hilarious Happy Gilmore cameo with WWE star Becky Lynch
Rory McIlroy hailed for hilarious Happy Gilmore cameo with WWE star Becky Lynch

Irish Daily Mirror

time7 hours ago

  • Irish Daily Mirror

Rory McIlroy hailed for hilarious Happy Gilmore cameo with WWE star Becky Lynch

Happy Gilmore 2 was released on Friday and Rory McIlroy was taken down a peg by Ireland's WWE superstar Becky Lynch. The cult movie sequel hit Netflix on Friday after months of hype on the back of the 1996 comedy classic starring Adam Sandler as an unorthodox and aggressive hockey star turned golfer. A host of the best players in the world appear in the sequel and, despite some extraordinarily harsh words from critics on the movie, viewers have hailed McIlroy for his part. The plot tells the tale of Sandler as Happy Gilmore, coming out of retirement to raise money to send his daughter to ballet school. He is paired with golf superstars McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau as the traditional stars of the sport to take on the new 'Maxi League' golfers. That group includes Irish WWE star Becky Lynch. The WWE star is Rebecca Quin in real life, a native of Limerick. "You guys get your clothes from the lost and found at comic-con," asks McIlroy on stage as the golf teams face off ahead of the contest. Lynch steps forward and grabs McIlroy by the nipples, asking, "Where'd you get these melons? Your mom." DeChambeau intervenes, shouting, 'don't you touch my boy's t*****s, those are my t*****s," before a mini brawl breaks out. One fan online reacted: "Never thought I'd see the day when Becky Lynch gave Rory McIlroy a double purple-nurple." "A Rory McIlroy /Becky Lynch face off wasn't on my bingo card for 2025," said another." Another fan stated on social media: "Rory McIlroy in Happy Gilmore is hilarious. A film that takes you away from the goings on in this world, really enjoyed it" "John Daly is sensational in it. And a surprisingly comic turn from Rory McIlroy of all people," said another account. Social media personality Paige Spiranac makes an appearance, as does Kansas City Chiefs ' tight end Travis Kelce. Despite the stellar line-up and huge promotional outlay, early reviews have been particularly harsh of the movie. A review stated: "When it comes to "Happy Gilmore 2," Netflix's latest comedic collaboration with "SNL" sensation Adam Sandler, you'd be better off taking a cue from Happy's golf rival Shooter McGavin (Christopher MacDonald) and simply eating a piece of s**t for breakfast." Ouch. Maybe don't give up the day job, Rory. A more balanced Guardian review reflected: "The sequel is unlikely to convert newcomers but there's more than enough to entertain its cult fanbase." Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.

Bryson DeChambeau fires mind-game warning to Rory McIlroy ahead of Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black
Bryson DeChambeau fires mind-game warning to Rory McIlroy ahead of Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black

The Irish Sun

time11 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

Bryson DeChambeau fires mind-game warning to Rory McIlroy ahead of Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black

BRYSON Dechambeau looks all but guaranteed to be part of Keegan Bradley's U.S. Ryder Cup team this September at Bethpage Black. The 31-year-old 2 Crushers GC's Bryson DeChambeau says he'll be in Rory McIlroy's ear if they play against one another during this year's Ryder Cup match in NY 2 The pair have a history of tense battles at major championships - most notably the 2024 US Open And Following the Open Championship, Team USA captain Keegan Bradley highlighted DeChambeau's value in a message. Speaking to Sports Illustrated, Captain America all but confirmed that Dechambeau will be part of his team in New York against Europe. Bradley said: 'Bryson is going to be a very important piece to us winning the Ryder Cup,' Bradley told Sports Illustrated in a text message Sunday night: 'He brings so much. He brings energy, passion but most importantly, he's one of the best players on the planet.' read more on golf On Monday, DeChambeau attended the premiere of Happy Gilmore 2, which was released on Netflix on Friday. And during the first screening on the 90s hit sequel, the social media icon shared Speaking to People, Bryson made it clear he'd be taking a more vocal approach this time around. The two-time US Open champions said: 'I'll be chirping in his ear this time. Most read in Golf "Now, if we go up against each other, I mean you can be sure of it. "I'll get into his ear a little bit.' Darts star Luke Littler tries out brand new sport and fans reckon they know where he learned his technique The pair last squared off in the final group of the 2025 Masters, where DeChambeau later drew attention for revealing that McIlroy didn't speak to him throughout their round. The previously jousted during their infamous battle at the 2024 US open, where the American sealed his second major title. The world's most prestigious

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store