The Open Championship got underway at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Co. Antrim on Thursday and Rory McIlroy has been welcomed back in classic Paddy Power style. The Irish bookmaker, notorious for displaying gag signs at major sporting events,

Rory McIlroy's bid to lead the way at The Open in front of his home fans at Royal Portrush collapsed in the space of four holes on the back nine as England's Matt Fitzpatrick joined China's Haotong Li among others at four under par 67 to share the first-round lead in Northern Ireland.

Yes. McIlroy debuted at the 2007 British Open as a low amateur. Since then, he has managed one win at the final golf major of the year. McIlroy finally completed the feat at the 2014 British Open, when the tournament was held at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Holylake, England.

Rory McIlroy had a singular pursuit. Visit his hometown of Holywood, in Northern Ireland, and you leave knowing the truth of that. The post In Rory McIlroy's humble hometown, they always saw him coming appeared first on Golf.

The hometown hero is back at Royal Portrush, but Rory McIlroy was poor off the tee again as the Open Championship rolls on.

Rory McIlroy missed the cut when The Open was last played at Royal Portrush in 2019; McIlroy plays in Northern Ireland for the first time since completing the career Grand Slam at The Masters; Can McIlroy enjoy more major success?