The Open: Rory McIlroy rumours abound as gates open and who to watch on Wednesday
Scroll down for our blog, where we'll bring you updates across the week
Gareth Hanna and Adam McKendry
Wednesday provides the final day for golf's greats to prepare for the last Major of the year as The Open Championship is almost ready to get under way at Royal Portrush.
Rory McIlroy stole a march on the crowds on Monday and Tuesday by sneaking out before the gates opened, but before 7am on Wednesday, there had been no recorded sightings of the grand slam star – just rumours aplenty!
Elsewhere, there is a long list of top names getting their final looks at the Dunluce Links over the course of the day, with the likes of world number one Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele and Brooks Koepka all down to play practice rounds.
The Open at Royal Portrush: What happened in 2019?
We also have three more press conferences today as US Open champion JJ Spaun and McIlroy's Masters foe Justin Rose will address the media, as will R&A chief executive Mark Darbon, who will surely be asked about The Open's return to Royal Portrush in the future and the possibility of Dublin course Portmarnock hosting the event in the future.
Follow along with all the week's action right here on our blog:
4 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Could watch those numbers ticking over all day
Shane Lowry striping it on the practice ground. Getting ready for Rory, just…
9 minutes ago
Marquee grouping today
The word around the first hole is that Shane Lowry is here because he's going to play with McIlroy at 8.30am. Two marshals on the first fairway say they were brought in early because McIlroy was due to play at 6.45am but then that obviously didn't happen.
At this rate I'm half expecting Donald Trump to show up for the 8.30am tee time before McIlroy.
18 minutes ago
Shane Lowry's in the gaff
Ramming home what we're saying about the time-sheet not being the be-all and end-all, Shane Lowry is now on the practice ground apparently, despite not being down to feature on the course today.
22 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
No Rory.... yet
At this stage it's fairly clear there's been no sign of Rory on site this morning. We've still got that 8.30am rumour to cling on to though...
26 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Listen to our Open preview pod
Refresh this article now to listen to our preview for The Open Championship as sports reporters Steven Beacom and Adam McKendry join host Olivia Peden to look ahead to the tournament.
35 minutes ago
Adam McKendry
On Rory watch
Where better to look for him than the second highest point on the course? The 13th tee overlooks 1, 2, 12, 14, 17 and 18 - if he's here, we'll know.
36 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Tom McKibbin's tee time
The eagle-eyed among you will have noticed on the time-sheet that the second NI interest set to tee it up today is McKibbin, who's down to play with Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton and Jacob Skov Olesen in what is sure to be an entertaining group.
44 minutes ago
Another Rory rumour can't hurt, can it?
The smoke and mirrors continue as, according to a scorer on the course, apparently Rory was due to go out first thing again but at the last second has now switched to 8.30am.
There is a group off at 8.24 and 8.36 - will he be in one of those?
52 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Would it be a shock if Rory didn't play on Wednesday?
I hate to be the one to say it but... I for one would not be overly surprised if Rory didn't appear on the course today. Bear in mind he's off the back of four rounds at the Scottish Open then full 18-holes on Monday and Tuesday. He's bound to be a little tuckered out.
*I'll deny saying that if he does show up.
55 minutes ago
Adam McKendry
Still no Rory sightings yet
He didn't join Matti Schmid on the first so unless he is out on the back nine, where Adam is headed now, he's opted against heading out early today.
57 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Selected (and updated) Wednesday practice times
As always, these are subject to change at the players' will so it's all a bit fluid. Here's the updated lists of who's going out when, and with whom.
*Players in bold selectively selected based on level of fame, ability, or just our favourites
7:12am: Joaquin Niemann, Carlos Ortiz, Phil Mickelson
7.36am: Adam Scott, Elvis Smylie
9.00am: Dylan Naidoo, Ludvig Aberg, Ryan Johnston, Aaron Rai
9.12am: Matt Fitzpatrick, Frazer Jones (a), Justin Rose, Marco Penge
9.36am*: Jesper Svensson, Thorbjorn Olesen, Scottie Scheffler, Sampson Zheng
10.12am: Ryan Peake, Lucas Herbert, Henrik Stenson, Adrien Saddier
10.36am: Jordan Smith, Laurie Canter, Brooks Koepka, Jason Kokrak
10.36am*: Daniel Hillier, Ryan Fox, Robert MacIntyre, Connor Graham (a)
10.48am: Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay, Russell Henley, Angel Hidalgo
10.48am*: Hideki Matsuyama, Younghan Song, Collin Morikawa, Sadom Kaewkanjana
11.12am: Lee Westwood, Bryan Newman (a), Sebastian Cave (a)
11.24am: Brian Campbell, Marc Leishman, Cameron Smith, Aldrich Potgieter
11.24am*: Jacob Skov Olesen, Tom McKibbin, Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton
11.36am: Patrick Reed, Shaun Norris, Justin Hastings (a), Dustin Johnson
11.36am*: Matt McCarty, JJ Spaun, Chris Gotterup, Ethan Fang (a)
11.48am*: Justin Rose, Stephan Jaeger, Jhonattan Vegas, Tom Kim
12.36pm*: Brian Harman, Stewart Cink, Zach Johnson
12.48pm: Min Woo Lee, Jason Day
1.00pm: Lucas Glover, Rickie Fowler, Akshay Bhatia, Andrew Novak
1.12pm*: Jordan Smith, Harris English, Justin Thomas, Shugo Imahira
2.12pm*: Sergio Garcia, OJ Farrell, Patrick Reed, Dustin Johnson
2.24pm*: Tony Finau, Rikuya Hoshino
3.24pm*: Robert MacIntyre, Curtis Luck
4.48pm*: Francesco Molinari
Today 06:18 AM
Interesting off the first
One of the unique things about the U-shaped grandstand on the opening hole is that it completely blocks out the wind, so players won't know how the hole is playing before they hit their first shots. With out of bounds up the left and right, that's not an easy position to be in.
Also, what a morning it is for golf. And the good news is this is the weather that's forecasted for the rest of the day, too!
Today 06:14 AM
Gareth Hanna
Tight time-sheet now
Every time is booked up on the sheet from now until 9.12am, so unless Rory's joining one of the groups (which is very possible), he may not be heading off the first. Next up is Matti Schmid, whose caddy is NI man Chris Selfridge.
'I'm just so excited': Meet the last Northern Irishman to bag a spot at this week's Open at Royal Portrush
Chris Selfridge was always flying back to Northern Ireland on Sunday night. He just didn't realise it would be to caddy at The Open Championship.
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Today 06:10 AM
Gareth Hanna
More Rory rumours...
The talk of Rory being about to appear at first are strengthening..... just as Joaquin Niemann, Carlos Ortiz and Phil Mickelson arrive for their scheduled 7.12am tee-time and make a liar out of it all!
Today 06:03 AM
Gareth Hanna
Who's out early on Wednesday - Rory?
Good morning all and welcome to Wednesday morning at The Open!
Part of the fun of arriving at this time is working out who's gone out before the 7am gate-opening to swerve the crowds.... and if there's any sign of Rory McIlroy. There's talk that NI men Darren Clarke and Tom McKibbin are around - Darren currently on the second and playing with Matt Wallace, heading out before the time-sheet's 7am start, Tom was reportedly heading out with Padraig Harrington and Nicolai Hojgaard - but Harrington has instead just headed out alongside American Maverick McNealy.
What of Rory? No early sighting on the first - unless he cleared off before 6am - but there are reports he may be about to appear on the first tee shortly. There's also the potential he went out elsewhere on the course, although no chat of that yet. Worth keeping an eye out there, if you're just coming through the gates.
*All of that is with the caveat that it's currently just whispers. What fun!?
Yesterday 05:55 PM
Gareth Hanna
Tuesday at The Open: A summary
Here's that Steven Beacom long read we promised you. See you in the morning!
Tuesday at The Open: Major winner sums up the feeling after home trio thrill fans – 'I don't know what it is about NI'
It was an image for the ages. Darren Clarke, Rory McIlroy and Tom McKibbin were all in a line walking towards the 18th green at Royal Portrush, soaking up the atmosphere.
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Yesterday 04:44 PM
Gareth Hanna
What's happening tomorrow morning?
Well.... surprise from Rory? I certainly wouldn't bet against it, and we'll be here bright and early to make sure you don't miss it if it does happen. Otherwise, here's a reminder of the official tee times for tomorrow, as we have them.
Quoted message
Yesterday 04:43 PM
Gareth Hanna
Later: Tom McKibbin long read
We're almost wrapping up for the day on the blog but we'll be back later to bring you a long-read from Steven Beacom on Holywood's Tom McKibbin and his performance in the all-NI group this morning.
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