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The 42
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The 42
McIlroy facing another major emotional challenge as Portrush's latest Open finally kicks off
WELCOME TO NORTHERN Ireland, where Open Week has been delivering all of that which you might expect, even before the golf has got underway. We have had an abrupt end to the summer by glowering and seditious skies. We have had a classic bit of opportunistic price-gouging, with the Harbour Bar's Open Added Tax such that the Belfast Telegraph believe their £8 pint of Guinness is currently the most expensive jar of stout in all of Northern Ireland. We have had the accommodation of a marching band, with Saturday's tee times to be brought forward for 15 minutes to ease the congestion exacerbated by the Sons of Ulster's 70-band parade. And we have had the greatest player in the world infected by a bad dose of existential despair. Scottie Scheffler's meditations in the press room on Tuesday have proved to be the most interesting part of the week's build-up, as he admitted that the joy in success on the golf course is fleeting and ultimately unfulfilling. 'What's the point?', asked Scottie aloud to rows of journalists briefly fascinated but ultimately chilled by the implications of his Beckettian angst. Beckett may have been primarily a cricket fan, but he would approve of the kind of strictly-controlled stage direction demanded of an Open venue by the Royal & Ancient. And, to be honest, everyone else should approve too. For ultimately we also have a stunning theatre for championship golf, one kept looking lush by the spillings of rain and marries take-a-breath views with a hold-your-breath challenge. The Open is back in Portrush after only six years primarily because of the number of eager punters they can layer along the fairways – more than 250,000 people will click between the gates this week – but this promises to be another week to make yourself giddy about the elemental genius of golf on this island and then make you lament the extent to which the professional game has been captured by obscenely wealthy parklands in America. But that's only if you can take your eyes away from Rory McIlroy, as to suggest Rory has been the centre of attention this week is to assume there's attention being shared anywhere else, which is not a safe bet. Dealing with that adulation's attendant pressure is what McIlroy failed to do in missing the cut in 2019, infamously hooking his tee shot left and out of bounds; his radar left askew by the emotional punch of the ovation that met him on the first tee. He said this week he hadn't expected to be met with anything like this noise, and that he had not mentally prepared for its impact. The good news is he can't be surprised twice. In 2019 he said he 'isolated' himself away from the clamouring crowds, to the point he stayed well away from the course. This time, however, he is staying nearby, and has decided he is better to embrace the attention and its expectation. It's a tentative kind of embrace, however: McIlroy snuck onto the property shortly after sunrise on Monday and Tuesday to steal a march on the madding crowds. And as to whether this refreshed approach will yield different results? Well, he sent his tee shot on the first hole out of bounds during practice on Monday and Tuesday. Er, maybe best to get those swings out of the way. Advertisement If McIlroy can deal with the emotional pressure – singular to him among the whole field – then he should contend, because his game looks to be in rude health. If his surly non-performance at the PGA Championship was the sit-down-in-the-shower-to-cry phase of his post-Masters hangover, then last Sunday's second-placed finish at the Scottish Open was the moment at which he finally kept his dinner down. This was the first tournament at which he contended since the Masters, and McIlroy said afterwards that he felt his game is back to the level at which it was during the first fortnight of April. If he can tidy up his driving accuracy – he ranked 60th among the Scottish Open field for fairways found – and maintain his putting consistency on the slower greens of a links course, then he will contend to become the first man to win the Masters and the Open in the same year since Tiger Woods did so in 2005. Shane Lowry. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO Meanwhile, Shane Lowry had to clarify at one point during his Monday press conference that he's not actually the defending champion. But such is the lingering impact of his 2019 victory and the haste with which the R&A have returned to Portrush, it feels like he has only this week handed back the Claret Jug. Lowry said this week he is a better golfer than he was six years ago – stats and rankings make this an indisputable claim – but he has too often struggled to show the kind of finishing prowess he showcased so gloriously in 2019. His consistency has also recently deserted him at the majors, missing the cut at the PGA Championship and the US Open. Even if he can flip that form line, he has the issue of an in-form field. Jon Rahm appears to the be the consensus favourite in the media centre at least: he has won two Irish Opens – one of which was at the nearby Portstewart – and has been a consistent threat at all the majors this year. Scottie Scheffler is a relative novice at links golf but he nonetheless has the artistry to excel by the sea, while the actual defending champ – Xander Schauffele – has eased himself back into form just in time for his tilt to be the first back-to-back winner of the Claret Jug since Pádraig Harrington. Harrington has been given the honour of hitting the first tee shot, a ceremonial role for a not-yet-ceremonial golfer. 'I don't want to be known as a ceremonial golfer', he says. 'I don't feel like I am at the moment, and I'm prepared to put that aside to have that honour.' Harrington will play alongside Tom McKibbin, who is seeking to burnish his talent with a reputation to match. A member of Royal Portrush, the big-hitting McKibbin is one of the best drivers on LIV and if he can play it from the fairway, he can easily fulfil his target of a best major finish yet, which was a T41 at last year's US Open. McKibbin has the benefit of familiarity with a course that will allow for compulsive viewing throughout the week, unlike the painfully one-note hosts of the two previous men's majors. Links golf is escape room golf: there's generally a route to safety, but you have to get creative in finding it. All of McIlroy, Lowry, and McKibbin independently pointed to how well bunkered the course is, meaning players will have to carefully choose their club on every tee box. While finding the fairway is vital, this is not the bomb-and-gouge festival thrown every week by the PGA Tour. Asked as to what makes this his favourite golf course, Harrington instantly pointed to its risk-reward element, saying no course on the Open rota throws up such variations in scoring on certain holes. The par-five seventh hole, for instance, yielded more eagles than any other in 2019, but it was on this very same hole that David Duval made a 14 during his opening round. Shane Lowry provided an electric, irresistible finish here six years ago, and there's only one man who can possibly deliver anything greater on this Sunday. But even if Rory McIlroy cannot quite rise to meet the soaring moment, then we'll be satisfied with the rugged, sober star power of Royal Portrush itself. Tips Jon Rahm to win – 11/1 Russell Henley e/w – 60/1 Tom Kim e/w – 100/1 Selected tee times – Round 1 6:35 am | Padraig Harrington, Nicolai Hojgaard, Tom McKibbin Related Reads Scheffler's press conference answer goes viral and leaves rivals facing deep and difficult questions Shane Lowry learning to embrace the struggle that paved the way to his first Open triumph To understand Rory McIlroy, you have to understand his relationship with Royal Portrush 7:52 am | Darren Clarke, Davis Riley, Lucas Herbert 9:58 am | Xander Schauffele, JJ Spaun, Jon Rahm 10:09 am | Shane Lowry, Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler 2:48 pm | Robert MacIntyre, Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Rose 2:59 pm | Jordan Spieth, Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland 3:10 pm | Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Tommy Fleetwood Selected tee times – Round 2 9:47 am | Robert MacIntyre, Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Rose 9:58 am | Jordan Spieth, Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland 10:09 am | Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Tommy Fleetwood 11:26 am | Padraig Harrington, Nicolai Hojgaard, Tom McKibbin 12:53 pm | Darren Clarke, Davis Riley, Lucas Herbert 2:59 pm | Xander Schauffele, JJ Spaun, Jon Rahm 3:10 pm | Shane Lowry, Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler
Scotsman
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Forfar care home invite local community to attend carnival summer fete as part of Care Home Open Week 2025 celebrations
HC-One Scotland's Finavon Court Care Home in Forfar, Angus, is preparing to celebrate Care Home Open Week 2025 with a fun-filled day with the local community at its Carnival Summer Fete event on Saturday, June 21, 2pm – 4pm. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Care Home Open Week, taking place from June 16 to 22, is a national event hosted by Championing Social Care, designed to connect care homes with their local communities. The week will provide care homes with the opportunity to showcase their range of services, provide tours of their facilities, and highlight the activities that are offered to residents. The event is also a reminder to the homes' neighbours that they are there if they need support. Finavon Court are delighted to be opening their doors to celebrate Care Home Open Week with residents, colleagues, friends, family, and the wider community. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Finavon Court Care Home will be decorated especially for the occasion and the celebration will be a chance for everyone to come together as a community, and to learn more about life at the care home. Colleagues at HC-One Scotland's Finavon Court Care Home's Care Home Open Week 2024 Wild West themed celebrations last year The Summer Fete event will consist of a variety of stalls including local crafts selling personalised items, cake and candy stalls, candles and aromas, keyrings, bobbles and gifts. There will also be candy floss, popcorn, a face painter, and bouncy castles for kids to enjoy. At the Summer Fete will also be the local Cats Protection organisation who will be attending for the third year in a row as well as a tarot reader for those who wish to receive a reading. There will also be the opportunity to take part in the home's raffle where there will be a range of prizes on offer to win including hampers. A number of food stalls including burgers and hot dogs along with a buffet will be available to choose from. A selection of carnival games created by the residents at Finavon Court will be on show at the Summer Fete for individuals to enjoy. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Claire Cameron, Home Manager at HC-One Scotland's Finavon Court Care Home, said: 'We are delighted to be able to open the doors of Finavon Court Care Home again to welcome in our local community and bring everyone together to celebrate Care Home Open Week 2025. Colleagues at HC-One Scotland's Finavon Court Care Home's Care Home Open Week 2024 Wild West themed celebrations last year 'We are proud to support Forfar, and our Open Week celebrations will provide a great opportunity to reconnect with our local community and to support community engagement which is so important to our residents, colleagues, and the local area.
