
Open tee-off times: Two-time champion Pádraig Harrington starts first at Portrush on Thursday with rookie Tom McKibbin
Northern Ireland native McKibbin (22) will be third off the tee in just his second appearance in The Open.
'I'm relishing it big time,' McKibbin said of his fourth major start. 'I experienced it a little bit at the Irish Open. But I think this will be even bigger. 'It's just super cool to see people cheering you on and shouting your name. It takes you aback a little bit from where I wasn't even a pro and when I was last here. So to be here and playing and having the crowd supporting is awesome.'
Clarke will tee off with American Davis Riley and Australia's Lucas Herbert at 7:52am, but there's also a stellar draw for 2019 champion Shane Lowry alongside world number one Scottie Scheffler and 2021 winner Collin Morikawa at 10:09am.
Rory McIlroy is one of the big favourites to win this week will go off with Justin Thomas and 2019 runner-up Tommy Fleetwood at 3:10pm.
Defending champion Xander Schauffele will go out just ahead of Lowry at 9:58am, with US Open champion JJ Spaun and fancied Spaniard Jon Rahm.
Tee-times for first round of The Open
6.35: Pádraig Harrington (Ire), Nicolai Hojgaard (Den), Tom McKibbin (NI)
6.46: KJ Choi (Kor), Guido Migliozzi (Ita), Louis Oosthuizen (SA)
6.57: Justin Hastings (Cay)*, Marco Penge (Eng), Cameron Smith (Aus)
7.08: Jason Day (Aus), Jacob Skov Olesen (Den), Taylor Pendrith (Can)
ADVERTISEMENT
7.19: Phil Mickelson (US), Ryan Peake (Aus), Daniel van Tonder (SA)
7.30: Byeong-Hun An (Kor), Max Greyserman (US), Niklas Noergaard (Den)
7.41: Dustin Johnson (US), Haotong Li (Chn), Jordan Smith (Eng)
7.52: Darren Clarke (NI), Lucas Herbert (Aus), Davis Riley (US)
8.03: Mikiya Akutsu (Jpn), Julien Guerrier (Fra), Chun-An Yu (Tai)
8.14: Thomas Detry (Bel), Chris Gotterup (US), Lee Westwood (Eng)
8.25: Patrick Cantlay (US), Mackenzie Hughes (Can), Cameron Young (US)
8.36: Filip Jakubcik (Cze)*, Matthew Jordan (Eng), Thorbjorn Olesen (Den)
8.47: Stephan Jaeger (Ger), Sebastian Soederberg (Swe), Henrik Stenson (Swe)
9.03: Martin Couvra (Fra), Kristoffer Reitan (Nor), Adrien Saddier (Fra)
9.14: Takumi Kanaya (Jpn), Bryan Newman (SA)*, Justin Walters (SA)
9.25: Matthew Fitzpatrick (Eng), Ryan Fox (NZ), Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn)
9.36: Akshay Bhatia (US), Ben Griffin (US), Sepp Straka (Aut)
9.47: Sam Burns (US), Brooks Koepka (US), Aldrich Potgieter (SA)
9.58: Jon Rahm (Spa), Xander Schauffele (US), JJ Spaun (US)
10.09: Shane Lowry (Ire), Collin Morikawa (US), Scottie Scheffler (US)
10.20: Wyndham Clark (US), Corey Conners (Can), Tom Hoge (US)
10.31: Nicolas Echavarria (Col), Denny McCarthy (US), Patrick Reed (US)
10.42: Ryggs Johnston (US), Matthias Schmid (Ger), Richard Teder (Est)*
10.53: John Axelsen (Den), Darren Fichardt (SA), Dylan Naidoo (SA)
11.04: Oliver Lindell (Fin), Jesper Sandborg (Swe), Justin Suh (US)
11.15: Sadom Kaewkanjana (Tha), Riki Kawamoto (Jpn), Sampson Zheng (Chn)
11.26: Stewart Cink (US), Marc Leishman (Aus), Matteo Manassero (Ita)
11.47: Connor Graham (Sco)*, Francesco Molinari (Ita), Jesper Svensson (Swe)
11.58: Daniel Brown (Eng), Daniel Hillier (NZ), Zach Johnson (US)
12.09: Ethan Fang (US)*, Rickie Fowler (US), Adam Scott (Aus)
12.20: Laurie Canter (Eng), Sergio Garcia (Spa), Elvis Smylie (Aus)
12.31: Andrew Novak (US), Matthieu Pavon (Fra), Matt Wallace (Eng)
12.42: Dean Burmester (SA), Rikuya Hoshino (Jpn), Davis Thompson (US)
12.53: Sebastian Cave (Eng)*, Shugo Imahira (Jpn), Si-Woo Kim (Kor)
13.04: Bud Cauley (US), Michael Kim (US), John Parry (Eng)
13.15: Angel Hidalgo (Spa), Matt McCarty (US), Shaun Norris (SA)
13.26: Daniel Berger (US), Keegan Bradley (US), Sung-Jae Im (Kor)
13.37: Christiaan Bezuidenhout (SA), Rasmus Hoejgaard (Den), Romain Langasque (Fra)
13.48: Harry Hall (Eng), Aaron Rai (Eng), Sahith Theegala (US)
14.04: Thriston Lawrence (SA), Justin Leonard (US), Antoine Rozner (Fra)
14.15: Chris Kirk (US), Carlos Ortiz (Mex), JT Poston (US)
14.26: Brian Harman (US), Maverick McNealy (US), Joaquin Niemann (Chi)
14.37: Tyrrell Hatton (Eng), Russell Henley (US), Min-Woo Lee (Aus)
14.48: Bryson DeChambeau (US), Robert MacIntyre (Sco), Justin Rose (Eng)
14.59: Ludvig Aberg (Swe), Viktor Hovland (Nor), Jordan Spieth (US)
15.10: Tommy Fleetwood (Eng), Rory McIlroy (NI), Justin Thomas (US)
15.21: Harris English (US), Tony Finau (US), Nick Taylor (Can)
15.32: Lucas Glover (US), Joo-Hyung Kim (Kor), Jhonattan Vegas (Ven)
15.43: Brian Campbell (US), John Catlin (US), Frazer Jones (Eng)*
15.54: Cameron Adam (Sco)*, Nathan Kimsey (Eng), Jason Kokrak (US)
16.05: Curtis Knipes (Eng), Curtis Luck (Aus), Daniel Young (Sco)
16.16: George Bloor (Eng), OJ Farrell (Eng), Young-Han Song (Kor)
* denotes amateur

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
McIlroy unable so far to take advantage of scoreable conditions at Royal Portrush
Brilliant sunshine and humid conditions made for a perfect tableau on the second day of The Open and, while Rory McIlroy couldn't take advantage, there were plenty of others who did through the morning's play. Rasmus Hojgaard and Brian Harman shared the lead on six-under par approaching lunchtime and over halfway through their rounds. The Dane carded five birdies and just one bogey through 14, the American was flawless through ten with four birdies. Victor Hovland and Tommy Fleetwood both picked up birdies on all three opening holes while Tyrell Hatton was two-under through nine to sit one stroke back from the leading pair. Robert MacIntyre was midway through the round with a blemish-free 33 to get to three-under. McIlroy, as was the case the day before, just couldn't get enough momentum going. He shot birdie, par, bogey, birdie, bogey, par through the first six holes and that about summed it up. Every time he did something, threatened something, he stuttered again. The opening birdie made for the perfect start but he was left with a horribly awkward lie beside the lip of a bunker on the par-three third and couldn't rescue the situation. The birdie to follow, on the brutally tough and superb fourth hole was utter class. An opening drive dead centre of the fairway to 348 yards, a superb iron approach to five feet and the birdie putt to finish it off. Chants of 'Rory, Rory, Rory' sprouted instantly from the enormous cavalcade of supporters that again attached itself to Northern Ireland's favourite son only for the following fifth to turn pear-shaped for him straight after. One of the most scenic holes in golf, the sun was blazing as McIlroy's group teed off but the Masters champion found a bunker short and to the left on what is a drivable par-four and again couldn't save himself hardship on his card. Three pars followed to leave him where he started the day, on one-under par.


The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘God bless this old couple' hail fans after seeing striking photo of Rory McIlroy surrounded at The Open
RORY McIlroy may be the centre of attention at Royal Portrush but one elderly couple stole the show in this pic. Epitomising the old idiom of a picture telling a thousand words, the below photo effectively showcases the extent of McIlroy's fame - as well as society's addiction to mobile phones. 2 An older couple in the middle are just about the only onlookers not straining to take a photo Credit: Getty 2 At the time of writing McIlroy is level for his Friday round after seven holes Credit: Getty It's easy to see why it's gone viral since day one of the year's final major on Thursday. Colby agreed, adding: "You're damn right! Enjoying the moment." Meanwhile Colin praised: "Proper golf fans, love to see it." The Masters famously abides by a Read More On Irish Sport Another fan suggested that The Open should follow suit upon seeing yesterday's striking image. They recommended: "No phones or cameras at majors. Should be a rule." McIlroy was The Northern Irish hero, who hit just TWO fairways, crumbled under similar pressure when the event was last held at Royal Portrush in 2019. Then, he started with a 79 and missed the cut. Yesterday, the Masters champion survived a wobble to end just three shots off the lead after a day when he was wayward off the tee but hot on the greens. Most read in Golf 'That's a great position to be in but at the same time it brings some added pressure because I didn't want to let them down. Tense moment as furious Jon Rahm confronts golf fan at The Open 'I dealt with that pressure pretty well - I certainly dealt with it better than I did six years ago! 'I am happy to give myself a good start and get myself into the tournament. I'm surprised four-under is leading, a thought someone would go out and shoot six or seven under par. 'I knew what to expect, it wasn't new to me playing at an Open at home, and that experience definitely helped. 'I didn't feel I was walking into the unknown, unlike last time when I hadn't experienced this before.' McIlroy sank a crucial 12-foot putt for par on the 15th, having carded three bogeys in the previous four holes - before a birdie on 17 left him under par for the round. He said: 'That par putt on 15 was a big one having bogeyed three of the last four. That was a huge putt, it kept whatever momentum I had and then to go one under for the final three was pleasing. 'The wind picked up a bit on the back nine and that made it more difficult. It was a tough day, spending a lot of time in the rough and fairway bunkers, so to shoot under par is a bonus.' McIlroy's rival


The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Justin Thomas tries casting a spell on golf ball in desperate attempt to nail birdie putt at The Open
JUSTIN THOMAS attempted his best Harry Potter impression as he tried to cast a spell on his golf ball. The American, 32, was in a blockbuster group with Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood for the first two days of The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush. Advertisement 5 Justin Thomas nearly rolled in a 29ft birdie putt on the third hole Credit: Sky Sports 5 The ball stopped right over the edge of the cup Credit: Sky Sports 5 Thomas tried to cast a spell on the ball to make it drop in Credit: Sky Sports 5 The three players could barely believe it stayed out Credit: Sky Sports And he had a brilliant moment early in his round on Friday. Thomas had a look at a birdie putt on the par 3 third hole to get in the red for his tournament. And he made a superb effort at the 29ft right-to-left putt. The ball curved around beautifully and looked destined to disappear into the bottom of the hole. Advertisement READ MORE ON THE OPEN However, it agonisingly came to a rest right on the edge of the cup. But despite literally overhanging the hole, the ball stopped and refused to go in for the birdie. So Thomas waited patiently to see if the ball would eventually find one more rotation and just nudge itself in. The commentator joked he should blow on it to secure the birdie. Advertisement Most read in Golf CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS But as Thomas got desperate, he jokingly turned to supernatural powers to force the issue and hilariously forcefully pointed at the ball and demanded it to "GO" in. Awkward moment fart noise stuns Open commentators into silence before pair burst out laughing The Open 2025 ONE of the most anticipated Opens in years is finally here. Can THE OPEN 2025 LIVE - Follow all the latest updates from Royal Portrush TIPS AND FREE BETS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW... The Open 2025 schedule and tee times TOP STORIES... It was not to be, though. Advertisement So after waiting long enough to wander over to the ball, Thomas did not want to risk a stroke penalty for taking too long over his shot. And in the end he had to concede it was not going in. So the two-time PGA Championship winner relented and knocked in the very easiest par putt of his career from less than an inch away. Golf fans took to social media loving his antics on the green. Advertisement The Open account wrote: "Justin Thomas trying to summon the wind on 3." A third added: "Justin Thomas should've thrown his arm at the ball with more gusto on hole 3 it might've fallen in." And a final user cheekily commented when it didn't work: "So basically he's Ron in the Chamber of Secrets?" 5 Thomas was paired with Rory McIlroy plus Tommy Fleetwood for the first two rounds Credit: PA Advertisement