The Open: Mixed start for Rory McIlroy as Shane Lowry signs off with a 70 at Royal Portrush
We'll bring you updates across the week
Today at 02:27
It's a massive week in Royal Portrush as the 153rd Open Championship takes place.
We will bring you all the action from the course all week as Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry lead the Irish challenge.
3 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Oh it's thrills you want?
How about this tee shot at the fourth snapped straight left as well? That's both drivers from Rory significantly left of the mark so far. Not a good spot, over there.
4 minutes ago
Adam McKendry
You Bez believe it
Strong start to the round for South Africa's Christiaan Bezuidenhout as he rattles off three straight birdies at 5, 6 and 7 to move to three-under-par and one shot off the lead! Could he do something special?
I was chatting to his father yesterday and he was bullish on his son's chances. I'm starting to believe him.
6 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Boring pars at the third
Pitch. Putt. Putt. Rory, JT, Tommy all stay level. A bit monotony never hurt anyone after those first two.
9 minutes ago
Adam McKendry
Shane and Scottie
The marquee morning group are finished and it's a good day for Scottie Scheffler, who almost ties the lead with a long-range putt on the 18th but sees it slide just right of the hole and instead has to settle for a par and a three-under 68, which leaves him one shot off the lead.
And it is also a good day for Shane Lowry, a one-under 70 a solid day's work that has him still very much in contention after three birdies and two bogeys! The '2019 defence' off to a good start.
Not so good for Collin Morikawa, though. Five bogeys, four of which came in his final 10 holes, and just one birdie means it's a +4 start for the 2021 champion.
13 minutes ago
Adam McKendry
Holey moley
As Rory McIlroy and co. head for the par-three third, let's check in on which holes are giving the players the most grief and which are providing birdie opportunities.
The toughest holes
1. 11th (+0.47)
2. 4th (+0.36)
3. 9th (+0.35)
4. 18th (+0.30)
5. 1st (+0.28)
The easiest holes
1. 5th (-0.26)
2. 12th (-0.25)
3. 7th (-0.18)
4. 2nd (-0.15)
5. 6th (+0.04)
16 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Up in the group ahead
The Open on Twitter / X
A fast start for Viktor Hovland. He eagles the second. pic.twitter.com/iuKIO2WDxr— The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025
21 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
The relief on his face
Rory in for birdie and the crowd are up. He puffs out his cheeks and that was pure, 100% relief, not joy. I've no doubt visions of 2019 were returning in his head after that putt on 1.
JT also gets his bounce back bird and Fleetwood can't get up and down from off the front so makes par.
All three level after two.
21 minutes ago
Adam McKendry
One marquee group done
The current Champion Golfer of the Year, Xander Schauffele, begins his defence of the Claret Jug with a level-par 71, which is no bad thing when you consider how up-and-down it was.
Jon Rahm is off to a solid start as he cards a one-under 70 that, bar back-to-back bogeys at 10 and 11, looked very solid and very much enhances his credentials as a contender.
It was a tougher day for US Open champion JJ Spaun, though. He drops three shots in his last four holes and finishes the round with a two-over 73, so he will be fighting to make the cut.
25 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
The pitch is good
And a birdie chance. Pitch out was the right play. Honestly, backing off that long iron could be the pivotal point of his whole week, already.
28 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
The inner monologue
He was ready to pull the trigger with a long iron then at the last minute steps off it and has the yardage book out. Time to just get back into play. Take a beat, as they'd say on Blue Lights.
Smart play. Wedge back into the fairway. Start the day again from there, mentally.
29 minutes ago
Adam McKendry
A roar from 17
And it's not for Scottie Scheffler, it's for Shane Lowry who loops in a rangy putt from 22 feet for the birdie that gets him back into the red at -1!
Could he potentially end the day even better with a birdie on 18? They've been hard to come by.
33 minutes ago
Stop it Scottie!
Forget trying to catch the leaders, Scheffler almost jumps into a share of the lead as he nearly jars his approach into the par-four 17th, pitching it about 20 feet short and letting it release up to the hole and it shaves the left edge on its way past before stopping a foot beyond the pin!
That's going to be the easiest of tap-in birdies and the World No.1 is ominously on -3 with one hole to play.
33 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Time for calm
He's bashed it straight left off the second, into the gallery. Now it's a par five so he should be able to make this OK. But he needs to settle after that missed three-footer. You worry about the impact of these things when it's Rory. Fleetwood and JT are good.
35 minutes ago
Adam McKendry
Danish delight
We already have Jacob Skov Olesen in a share of the lead, Nicolai Hojgaard in the clubhouse two back at -2 and now there's another Dane on the charge as John Axelsen birdies 12 and 13 to move to -2, two off the top.
The 27-year-old plays primarily on the HotelPlanner Tour (formerly known as the Challenge Tour) and only qualified through Final Qualifying at Royal Cinque Ports - he's certainly making the most of that invitation.
41 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
'Oh Rory'
Rory loops his long putt round the slope and in to three feet but then…. MISSED IT. Leaves himself further away for bogey but at least gets that. Shockwave for a nervous crowd.
Fleetwood two putts for par off back edge but, JT can't tease his own putt from back there down the slope as leaves it 20 foot short, missing the hill altogether. Bogey for Thomas.
(To anyone who saw my brief trigger happy post that he had holed it, I am sorry. Fully scudded him. Fully.)
42 minutes ago
Adam McKendry
Scheffler on the move
He's hit an absolute stunner into Calamity, flirting with the chasm but bouncing it up onto the green and up to three feet - and he drains the putt! That's the World No.1 up to -2 and just two back, with the birdie-able par-four 17th coming up!
Unfortunately Sergio Garcia is going the other way as he bogeys the par-four eighth and is back to -2 as well, having been at -3.
51 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
And a roar!
Very impressive from McIlroy. We've barely seen anyone make the green from that left rough but he manages to squeeze it on the front edge. A long two-putt and we're away.
Gareth Hanna on Twitter / X
And everyone in Portrush breathes a collective sigh of relief for Rory McIlroy pic.twitter.com/eGOR6P7s27— Gareth Hanna (@GarethHanna11) July 17, 2025
55 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Audible relief
There was a physical and collective sigh as Rory's tee shot lands IN BOUNDS. It's in the rough on the left and we know how thick that is. So not ideal. But it's not a reload. So sure look. We move.
Justin Thomas and Tommy Fleetwood safely on the short stuff.
Everyone in Portrush is glad that's over.
59 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Here's Rory
The first cheer for the man himself as the supporters round a packed first tee catch a glimpse of him on his way. This shot is six years in the making. Can he exorcise the ghosts of 2019?
Rory McIlroy reacts to 2019 nightmare at Royal Portrush during Open press conference
Rory McIlroy admits that after the disappointment of missing the cut at The Open at Royal Portrush in 2019 he is going to take a brand new approach to this year's tournament.
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
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