Latest news with #Masters
New York Post
5 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Pat McAfee supports Rory McIlroy blowing off the media: ‘Tell them to kiss your ass'
Pat McAfee has a simple piece of advice for how Rory McIlroy should handle his latest rift with the media: 'Tell them to kiss your ass.' 'I'm going to say this to Rory: Rory, I love everything you're doing,' McAfee said Wednesday on ESPN's 'The Pat McAfee Show. 'You walk up to the media and tell them to kiss your ass. You do whatever you need to do, buddy. It is great whenever you're playing incredible golf. If you need to take some time, you need to take some time.' In the wake of his win at the Masters in April, McIlroy has found himself at odds with the media in the following months over his unwillingness to speak at certain points. Pat McAfee defended Rory McIlroy on Wednesday's 'The Pat McAfee Show.' The Pat McAfee Show/YouTube The 36-year-old golfer was sharply criticized for skipping out on media availability after he struggled at the PGA Championship in May, a decision he doubled down on ahead of the RBC Canadian Open in early June. McIlroy justified avoiding the media by calling his time at the PGA Championship a 'weird week,' while also citing frustrations about a leak that his driver had been deemed nonconforming. He also noted that the PGA Tour doesn't require its golfers to speak to the media, unlike the NBA, NFL and MLB. Rory McIlroy during a practice round Wednesday before The Open Championship. Getty Images McAfee doesn't believe the golfer should have to explain himself. 'S–t, I just took some time, I am taking some time from WWE,' said McAfee, who is a color commentator on 'Raw' and has wrestled for the promotion. 'You mentally get to a place where you're kind of exhausted and things like that. So if that's what happened to Rory or if that's going on with Rory or it was happening with Rory and he's on the other side — Rory, we just want to let you know, we love when you're golfing good. And I love that people hate you. I think that is a good thing for sport, not a bad thing for sport.' After placing second in the Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick last weekend, McIlroy is now competing for another major title at The Open Championship, which is being held at the Royal Portrush Golf Club in his home country of Northern Ireland.
Daily Record
5 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Ex convict Ryan Peake in Open dreamland as former bike gang member gets hero Phil Mickelson's autograph
The Australian spent five years behind bars but is playing at Royal Portrush Ryan Peake transformed from convicted jailbird to innocent child-like autograph hunter as he starred alongside Phil Mickelson at The Open. The Australian completed a five-year sentence for serious assault at Hakea Prison in 2019 when Royal Portrush last staged The Championship. Peake was in an outlawed motorcycle gang having fallen out of love with golf and ended up doing time. However, having won the New Zealand Open to make it to Northern Ireland, he was just like the kids at the course as he grabbed gifts from Lefty. Peake said: 'It was pretty good. I just asked for his golf ball and got him to sign a golf glove for me after. He just introduced himself, which I don't think he needs to introduce himself. I was well aware of who he was. But obviously I was nervous. ' I wouldn't say nervous because I was playing next to Phil. It's just, I guess, your first major and things like that. But I've just got to get better at that, and I've got to be better at that. No, he wasn't offering me help. I would have known I was in a bad place if he'd come over and started offering me help. 'But we chatted. He's very friendly. We just had a lot of normal chitchat, talked about family. We talked about different things. Nothing in particular. 'I grabbed his putter off him a few times and had a little feel of it. That's the OG. That's the one from the Masters. There was a couple cool things. "Like I said, his caddie gave away golf balls as we were walking off the tee and I yelled out: What about me? 'He had a laugh, thought I was being sarcastic, and he said: Are you serious? And I said: I'm deadly serious. I said: Can you sign a glove as well? He's your hero growing up. My own boy is out here this week and he loves him as well. I'm not going to ask him on the first tee, but I'll ask him after the round.'
New York Post
35 minutes ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Jon Rahm fumes at ‘whistling' fan in tense British Open scene
It didn't take long for Jon Rahm to get aggravated at the 2025 British Open. After his tee shot on the 11th hole in the first round Thursday at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, the two-time major winner claimed that a fan was whistling during his backswing and expressed his frustration. 'Really? Whistling? Great time. Right in my backswing,' Rahm said toward a group of nearby fans, as shown on the USA Network broadcast. 'Very smart, whoever it was.' 3 Jon Rahm reacts toward fans while accusing one of whistling during his backswing at the British Open on July 17, 2025. X/NUCLR Golf Rahm's tee shot sailed into the thick rough to the right of the fairway, forcing him to layup and leading to a bogey. Through 17 holes, Rahm was 1-under and tied for 14th place as Jacob Skov Olesen, Haotong Li and Matt Fitzpatrick tied atop the leaderboard at 4-under. Rahm, 30, has not won a major since he jumped from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf at the end of 2023 on a contract reportedly worth upward of $300 million, a stunning defection as he had previously brushed off reports linking him to the Saudi-backed league. The Spaniard finished tied for 45th at the 2024 Masters before missing the cut at the PGA Championship. He missed the U.S. Open with a foot injury but finished tied for seventh at the 2024 British Open at Royal Troon in Scotland. 3 Jon Rahm gestures as he leaves the first tee at the British Open on July 17, 2025. AFP via Getty Images 3 Jon Rahm (r.) hits his tee shot on the first hole at the British Open on July 17, 2025. REUTERS Rahm has been more consistent in majors this year, finishing tied for 14th at Augusta, tied for eighth at the PGA Championship and tied for seventh at last month's U.S. Open at Oakmont. He captured his first major championship at the 2021 U.S. Open and took home the green jacket at the 2023 Masters.
NBC Sports
36 minutes ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
WATCH: No O.B. for Rory McIlroy on first hole at The Open; no par, either, after short miss
Matt Fitzpatrick was probably looking to save par and stay one shot off the lead at The Open. With authority, he did much better than that. Rory McIlroy was safe off the tee on his first hole Thursday at The Open, but his putter let him down. Six years ago at Royal Portrush, McIlroy, who grew up less than an hour away, hit his opening shot out of bounds on the par-4 first on his way to a quadruple-bogey 8 and a 79. He pulled his tee shot again, this time around, but it settled safely in the left rough. Will @McIlroyRory contend at his home @TheOpen? His opening round at Royal Portrush is underway! 📺 Watch live now on USA The Masters champ hit his second shot onto the green, 68 feet away. He lagged his putt inside of 4 feet, but missed his par save.
Times
an hour ago
- Sport
- Times
The Open leaderboard 2025 live: scores, updates from round 1 at Portrush
One of the privileges of covering the Open as a member of the media is the access inside the ropes, so I have just walked up the side of the first hole taking in the remarkable scenes at Royal Portrush as thousands gathered to see Rory McIlroy get his bid for a major trophy on home soil underway (Stuart Fraser writes). In places the galleries were more than 10 deep as spectators strained to catch a glimpse of the Masters champion. Understandably there was a collective audible gasp of deflation as McIlroy missed a short downhill putt for par, adding to the pressure and tension that surrounds his opening round here. He is in more trouble at the 2nd too as is tee shot flies way left of the fairway. Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. Lee Westwood was two off the lead after the first round at Royal Portrush in 2019. He has started well again here in his first Open for three years, and finishes his first round on two under (Rick Broadbent writes). His longest birdie putt was from four feet which shows the quality of the rest of his game. Well, here we go. Rory McIlroy has just teed off at the par-four 1st and he sends his drive into the rough on the left-hand side of the fairway. It's not ideal, but he recovers well and his second shot lands at the front of the green. Last time he started an Open Championship at his home course here at Portrush he ran up a quadruple-bogey eight at this hole, so I am sure the Northern Irishman will be very happy to get a good look at par here. Matt Fitzpatrick pars the final hole and the 2022 US Open champion cards for a first-round 67. He had a chance to make birdie at the last and take the clubhouse lead but his long putt falls wide to the left. How crucial could that chip in for birdie be at Calamity Corner for the Englishman? A good days work for Fitzpatrick. Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. The Spanish veteran Sergio Garcia has started his round immaculately. After starting with four consecutive pars, he has just made three birdies on the bounce at the 5th, 6th and 7th to leave himself one off the lead at three under par. The latest comes after missing a good eagle putt, but he tucks the ball home from two feet to make birdie at the 7th. The 43rd group of the day have just gotten underway at the first tee. England's Tyrrell Hatton gets a warm ovation as he begins his week. He sends his tee shot into the first cut on the left-hand side of the fairway. A superb approach leaves him a good look at birdie but his putt slides narrowly wide of the cup. He should tap home for par. If you haven't already, make sure you have a read of Rick Broadbent's exclusive interview with Hatton who had his best finish at a major (T4) at the US Open earlier this season. Can the Buckinghamshire player become the first since Nick Faldo in 1992 — incidentally the same year Hatton was born — to win the Open? • Read more: Why fiery Tyrrell Hatton can end England's 33-year Open drought Good to see Matt Fitzpatrick back at the top end of the leaderboard at a major (Rick Broadbent writes). The Yorkshireman likes a grind so this should suit him. He has had a troubled time over the past 18 months but has always had a useful self-deprecating wit. So when he won the US Open in 2022 he confused American writers when he likened himself to Sheffield United. 'The same deal,' he said. 'Not expected to succeed. Underdog mentality.' Then, when asked about his appearance on Full Swing docuseries, he added: 'I was watching with my girlfriend. We didn't get very far — we were falling asleep.' Matthew Fitzpatrick is having a great opening round at Royal Portrush and it continues with an brilliant birdie on the par-three 16th. The Englishman looked to be in a difficult spot after his first shot on ended up in the rough on the slope off the green, but he chipped in from 13 yards to secure his second birdie of the back nine and join the leaders on four under. Elsewhere, Shane Lowry has dropped a shot on the 13th, taking him to even par for the day. Portrush resident Darren Clarke did not have much to cheer in a four-over-par round of 75 on his home course today, although he has a good chance of making the highlights reel with a chip-in birdie out of the rough on the 17th (Stuart Fraser writes). The 56-year-old lightheartedly questioned his preparation afterwards, referencing a famous local hostelry. 'I've been down here practising a lot, hitting putts, doing everything,' Clarke said. 'Coming in here shooting four over, maybe I should have spent more time in the Harbour Bar than out here.' Matthew Jordan signs off with a par on the 18th hole for a very good opening round of 68. The Englishman heads into the clubhouse at three under par, one shot behind the early leaders Jacob Skov Olesen and Haotong Li. There is a collective groan from the onlooking fans on the 12th green as Shane Lowry comes within inches of a birdie from 14ft. He saves an easy par to remain at one under, as does Scottie Scheffler, who also completes the hole in five shots. Elsewhere, Matthew Jordan does well to save par on the 17th after finding the sand on the second shot of the par four. He remains at three under par, one behind the leaders. The par-four 11th hole is causing some problems for a lot of players today, and not even Scottie Scheffler has been exempt from that. The world No1 found some thick rough with his tee shot and was only able to manage a bogey, taking his score to one under. Shane Lowry does well to escape the same fate, sinking a putt from 20 feet to save par. 'This is not a fulfilling life.' So said Scottie Scheffler on Tuesday but Brooks Koepka may well be feeling it now (Rick Broadbent writes). Not too long ago Koepka was considered a major machine, an intimidating presence with a stated aim of 'obliterating' the opposition in the words of Pete Cowen. The five-time major winner was moving along nicely here but has now dropped four shots in three holes and is three over par. It's fair to say he looks decidedly unfulfilled. The Spaniard has taken a tumble down the leaderboard, and is now tied for 22nd on level par after two bogeys to start his back nine. He doesn't look too pleased. One of the home favourites Darren Clarke, who is from Dungannon in Co Tyrone, has just brought up one of the big cheers of the day so far. The 56-year-old has chipped in on the 17th from 26 yards for his second birdie of the round. Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. Jason Day has finished his round of 73, and taken aim at the meteorologists (Rick Broadbent writes). The 2023 runner-up said: 'This is the craziest weather pattern I've ever experienced in my life. There's no consistency to it whatsoever. I mean, I'd love to be a weatherman here. You just get it wrong all the time.' The rain is getting heavier now at the 16th, and Calamity Corner has claimed its first victim. Niklas Norgaard's ball buried in the gorse to the right of the green and even this reporter was called into the search party (Tom Kershaw writes). There was little relief on the Dane's face once it was eventually found, but he hacked out brilliantly to give himself an outside chance of bogey. Alas, his ball did the full 360 of the lip and was promptly spat back out. Nicolai Hojgaard may well find himself in another tussle with twin brother Rasmus for a place in the Ryder Cup team (Rick Broadbent writes). Two years ago he pipped Rasmus and said he had to pretend not to be jubilant when he rang him to commiserate. Rasmus goes out later this afternoon. 'The course is playing exactly how we want it,' says Nicolai after his round. 'The wind is tricky, but if you're in control, you can make birdies out there.' The rain is getting heavier, though. A tremendous first morning for Denmark, responsible for the early two clubhouse leaders of The 153rd Open (Stuart Fraser writes). First in was Nicolai Hojgaard, the 24-year-old Ryder Cup player who teed off at 6.35am and posted a two-under-par round of 69. Soon after came the lesser-known Jacob Skov Olesen, a 26-year-old who clearly likes the Irish links as he won the 2024 Amateur Championship at Ballyliffin. He subsequently turned professional to play on the DP World Tour this year, foregoing his place at the Masters in April as a result. An excellent four-under-par round of 67 here indicates that he has a good chance of getting to Augusta in the future. Elsewhere, one of the home favourites Shane Lowry is two under through six having just birdied the sixth. A controlled drive for 186 yards lands about 17 feet from the pin and he rolls it in. Almost like he's been here before. Olesen bogeys the final hole for a score of 67, and now shares the lead with Lee Westwood, who is four under through 12. The 26-year-old Dane has a two-shot lead over Li Haotong of China, and England's Lee Westwood, with one hole to play. The highlights so far are a remarkable eagle putt from 42ft on the 12th, and a chip in for birdie at the 15th. He's dropped one shot so far, on the eighth. The weather is really beginning to close in, with flecks of rain on the camera lenses and umbrellas popping up all over the place. Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. The world No1 says he's 'not out to inspire the next generation of players' and adds winning the Open at Portrush 'would be awesome for two minutes'. Read his full quotes here. After a par on the first, the two-time champion had a difficult round, dropping shots on five holes, including a double bogey at the tenth, for a score of 75. Rory McIlroy's caddie, Harry Diamond, routinely gets flak when things go pear-shaped for the five-time major winner (Rick Broadbent writes). The general consensus of the criticism is he needs a more experienced looper. Billy Foster, the man who carried for Matt Fitzpatrick when he won the US Open and has now teamed up with Collin Morikawa, says some of the art of caddying has died with the advent of technical aids. Anyway, Lee Westwood is doing just fine with his wife, Helen, doubling up as his caddie. 'All the golf decisions are mine,' said Westwood. 'So she never gives me the wrong advice.' Calamity Corner is showing some mercy to the early groups (Tom Kershaw writes). The rain has gone and the wind is relatively benign, although a 205-yard par three over a yawning chasm means the 16th is still no easy feat. Tom McKibbin watched forlornly as his ball rolled back off the false front, but a terrific chip saved his par. KJ Choi, who is ten over for his round, also managed to escape unscathed, although the 55-year-old will be happy to see the clubhouse. Lee Westwood was two off the lead after the first round at Royal Portrush in 2019. He has started well again here in his first Open for three years, and is three under after seven holes (Rick Broadbent writes). His longest birdie putt so far is four feet which shows the quality of the rest of his game. Meanwhile, Scottie Scheffler missed the first fairway but made his par. As the rain came down Padraig Harrington was striding on in short sleeves, familiar determined duck waddle, hard as nails. The 26-year-old Dane has made a 42ft eagle on the 12th to take him to four under par through 12. Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. As the wind blows and the rain falls, the first group are approaching the final few holes here at Royal Portrush (Stuart Fraser writes). Some tricky tee shots to come in these conditions, particularly on the 16th and the 18th. Yesterday I walked the back nine for some scouting and got chatting to one of the ballspotters on the 18th. While there are people from all over the world fulfilling this role across the course, only members of Royal Portrush are allowed to be on the 18th. Open organisers have been in discussions with President Trump's son over bringing the championship back to Turnberry, the course Trump owns in Ayrshire. The last time the event was hosted there back in 2009, 100,000 spectators turned up. Read more here. The 2019 champion is up and running, and sends his first tee shot straight down the fairway to settle the nerves. Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. Prone to eruptions, the player from Buckinghamshire was born in 1992, the year Nick Faldo become the last Englishman to win the Open. He says he won't change a thing at Portrush after his best major result, a tie for fourth at Oakmont in the US Open last month. He's off at 2.37pm. Read his full exclusive interview with Rick Broadbent here. Feathers have already been ruffled out here. Meet Belle the Harris's hawk, whose brief is to scare off the seagulls this week. Insert your own golf-related joke here. It looks like conditions will worsen at Portrush as the day goes by. Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. As balls fly into the thick undergrowth either side of the narrow fairways, players, caddies, and camera operators are joined by intrepid spectators who offer a watchful eye, like helpful little worker bees all hoping to be the one who finds the errant ball. Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. Lots of people have been discussing Scottie Scheffler's soul-searching press conference in which he debated the meaning of golf and confessed he has a daily wrestle with himself over the point of it all (Rick Broadbent writes). It is a head-scrambling game and Tyrrell Hatton, a champion scrambler in that respect, explained it to me. 'If you take tennis, there is such a short amount of time between shots. You don't have time to worry about what's happened. Here you hit one shot potentially every 6 to 10 minutes and that's a lot of time to be annoyed.' Padraig Harrington could empathise. His early promise has faded and, after a long search for his ball in the rough, slumps to a double on 10. Padraig Harrington knows Portrush better than most players in the field, but a patch of grass on the 10th hole is causing havoc for the two-times Open champion (Tom Kershaw writes). A small army of stewards and fans are trampling a patch of fescue trying to find the Irishman's ball but their search is to no avail. He eventually taps in for a double-bogey six. It will be of little consolation to Harrington, who at 53 still believed he was capable of winning this tournament and was first out practising at 7am yesterday, but plenty will come unstuck on that finickity par four. Being the first Estonian to qualify for the Open is an extraordinary achievement in itself, but Richard Teder's 70-yard hole-out at West Lancashire is unlikely to be topped any time soon (Tom Kershaw writes). The 20-year-old amateur had only required a bogey on the final hole of regulation play when he lost his drive and was thrust into a four-man playoff for just one place. It seemed as if he had squandered his chance, but, as the light faded, the largely unheralded prospect produced a sublime pitch that left both him and his bereft opponents in a state of shock. 'I knew it was going to be pretty close but when the ball disappeared I just couldn't believe it. I kind of blacked out. It was wild,' Teder says. 'It was by far the biggest shot of my life. Nothing can top that. I've watched it back way too many times. There's been quite a few nights I just watch the video over and over again.' Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. Teder should be an eye-catching attraction this week. An immense driver of the ball, his clubhead speed of 127mph would already rank among the top professionals. 'Bryson DeChambeau is probably around where I am or a bit faster, but I think I could definitely outdrive Rory [McIlroy],' he says, proudly. 'I'm not going to be asking for many signatures. I'm here to play,' Teder says. 'The end goal is to be the best player in the world. I've been saying that forever, and to win some majors and some big tournaments. I'll definitely be nervous because we're all human, but it's going to be loads of fun.' A long day ahead on the links of Royal Portrush (Stuart Fraser writes). There are a total of 156 players in the field and all start on the first tee, unlike many PGA Tour events which have some hit their opening shots on the 10th. As a result, the first group was out at 6:35am and the last group is due at 4:16pm. It will be near darkness by the time the last group finishes, but they should be fine. To give you an idea of the timings of daylight here, I was fortunate last night to play at nearby Portstewart and hit the last putt on the 18th at 10:40pm. Granted, it would not suffice for professionals at that point, but 30 minutes shaved from that would be a reasonable cut-off. The Yorkshireman had to borrow his dad's credit card and applied to work at Tesco during the pandemic, but stunned fans at last year's Open at Royal Troon, and is now looking to go one better after his breakthrough title on the DP World Tour. He tees off at 11.58 this morning. Read more from Tom Kershaw here. Naturally the wind has started to blow just in time for the start after a benign week so far (Rick Broadbent writes). We have been under way for a couple of hours now and there has been a dash of that golden oldie magic to warm up the crowd. Padraig Harrington had the honour of starting proceedings, albeit that meant an early alarm call for his 6.35am tee time. A sensible choice of an iron off the tee ended up with a birdie. Then Phil Mickelson chips in from a bunker. Tom McKibbin, the 22 year-old Royal Portrush member, has had an early eagle and Nicolai Hojgaard leads. Rain, possibly thunderstorms, could make life hard for Rory McIlroy who tees off at 3.10pm. The Northern Irishman stunned the golf world with the course record in 2005, but had a howler here six years ago. Now he's back, having completed the career grand slam earlier this year. Can he replicate his Augusta form and win his second Open title? Read Rick Broadbent's full piece here. The 2013 champion has had a decent start to the morning, with this fantastic bunker shot the highlight so far. Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. The picturesque links course on the coast of Co Antrim is notoriously difficult, with very little room for error even for the world's best players. To find out just how tough Calamity Corner can be, our very own Angus Oliver made his way over to Northern Ireland to check it out. Read his full piece, complete with a video of his round, here. (All times BST)(a) – indicates amateur Hello and welcome along to the Times' live coverage of the 153rd Open from Royal Portrush. The final major of the year promises to be a brilliant watch, with challenging conditions and a devilishly difficult course standing between the world's finest golfers and the Claret Jug. Rory McIlroy, the home favourite, arrives having finally completed the career grand slam at the Masters earlier this year, but he's had a tough couple of months since. Which version of the Holywood star will turn up this weekend? Shane Lowry, who won his only major title here in 2019, is also back, hoping to replicate his stunning 63, a course record, to add to his tally. Follow here for all the updates, analysis and insight from our experts at Portrush.
