Rory McIlroy reflects on record 61 at Royal Portrush: ‘I had that cockiness and thought this was what I was supposed to do'
The course record at the Dunluce Links has stood strong since 2005 when a young Rory McIlroy forced the golfing world to stop and pay attention with one eagle and nine birdies in a remarkable 11-under-par round in the North of Ireland Amateur Championship.
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Metro
28 minutes ago
- Metro
The Open 2025: Round One and Two tee times, TV schedule, odds and how to watch
The Open Championship is fast approaching as 156 of the world's best golfers get ready to tee it up in the final major of the year at Royal Portrush. The tournament heads back to Portrush after its maiden appearance there in 2019, which in turn ended the Open's 68-year absence from Northern Ireland. Shane Lowry delighted home fans with his victory six years ago, and the Republic of Ireland star will be hoping to roll back the years this time around. And there will also be plenty of eyes on Rory McIlroy as the Masters champion looks to improve on his performance here in 2019, which saw him miss the cut. Xander Schauffele is this week's defending champion after his commanding final-round display at Royal Troon last year. But the American, still getting back to his best after an early-season injury, faces a tall order to win back his title against a stacked field that includes World No1 Scottie Scheffler. Ahead of the first round, here is everything you need to know, including the tee times, TV schedule, and how to watch and stream in the UK. Selected groups, all times BST. 09:58 – Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele, JJ Spaun 10:09 – Shane Lowry, Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler 14:37 – Tyrrell Hatton, Russell Henley, Min-Woo Lee 14:48 – Bryson DeChambeau, Robert MacIntyre, Justin Rose 14:59 – Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland, Jordan Spieth 15:10 – Tommy Fleetwood, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas 09:36 – Tyrrell Hatton, Russell Henley, Min-Woo Lee 09:47 – Bryson DeChambeau, Robert MacIntyre, Justin Rose 09:58 – Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland, Jordan Spieth 10:09 – Tommy Fleetwood, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas 14:59 – Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele, JJ Spaun 15:10 – Shane Lowry, Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler Full tee times for rounds one and two can be found here. Thursday 17 July: Round One action, with live coverage from 6.30am till 9.30pm. Friday 18 July: Round Two action, with live coverage from 6.30am till 9.30pm. Saturday 19 July: Round Three action, with live coverage from 11am till 8.30pm. Sunday 20 July: Round Four action, with live coverage from 10am till 7.30pm. Scottie Scheffler – 5/1 Rory McIlroy – 6/1 Jon Rahm – 10/1 Shane Lowry – 18/1 Tommy Fleetwood – 20/1 Tyrell Hatton – 20/1 Ludvig Aberg – 22/1 Bryson DeChambeau – 22/1 Viktor Hovland – 22/1 Xander Schauffele – 22/1 Robert MacIntyre – 25/1 Collin Morikawa – 28/1 Matt Fitzpatrick – 30/1 BAR – 35/1 *Odds provided by Betway (subject to change) All four rounds from the Open will be shown on Sky Sports Golf or Sky Sports Main Event in the UK, while viewers can also live stream the action via Sky Go. If you're not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass to watch without a subscription. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Back Rory McIlroy to make the most of second chance to win The Open at Royal Portrush MORE: Dan Brown relishing Open return after 'dream-like' debut at Royal Troon MORE: Golf fans fume at 'bizarre' ruling as JJ Spaun takes advantage to win US Open
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
‘Was it illegal? Yes' – Open star's half-blind coach dad let him drink and try drugs as kid and now lives in the jungle
GOLF SHOTS 'Was it illegal? Yes' – Open star's half-blind coach dad let him drink and try drugs as kid and now lives in the jungle Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) XANDER SCHAUFFELE was illegally allowed to try drugs, drink alcohol and smoke cigars as a child - by his own dad. Fast forward 16 years and the pair drank booze out of the Claret Jug after his Open glory. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Xander Schauffele won The Open last year at Royal Troon Credit: Reuters 5 He was congratulated after the 18th hole by his father Stefan Credit: Getty Schauffele, 31, won The Open at Royal Troon 12 months ago - nine weeks after his maiden Major win at the PGA Championship - and arrives at Portrush as the defending champion. And as well as necking red wine and 'clear liquors' from golf's famous trophy a year ago, he admitted in his champion's press conference: 'I hate to say it, but I've had wine, of course, and then I've had tequila out of it, as well.' Schauffele, though, has been consuming alcohol with his old man Stefan since his early teens. His old man would even give French cognac and Cuban cigars to Xander and his childhood friends when they visited their San Diego home in the mid-noughties. Speaking to The Times, Stefan, 61, said: 'In America, the drinking age is 21 but you're allowed to be killed for your country at 18. This is bulls***. 'I told my boys [Xander and his older brother Nico]: I will teach you everything I know and cram in as many life experiences as I can until you're 16, then you're an adult in my mind. 'That included sexual experiences, even drugs. Someone was selling marijuana and cocaine at the middle school when Xander was 14, so you need to confront this. 'I said, 'I don't mind if you try, you just need to be aware it can f*** you up.' 'There were a lot of green faces with the cigars, some accidents with the alcohol, but they all learnt very quickly. 'Was it illegal? Yes. Can they put me in jail for it now? I don't think so.' Xander Schauffele jokes he was 'trending towards an alcoholic,' but he's happy to be back in Scotland Reflecting back on that upbringing, American Schauffele Jr added: 'He wanted to show me what's on the other side if you are successful. 'But maybe he just wanted a buddy to drink and smoke with.' Around the same age, Stefan challenged Xander to a full-on wrestling fight in the bathroom which ended up with a broken towel rail and the youngster in the bath. Xander added: 'Let's just say I didn't win the fight.' Stefan's parenting techniques have certainly raised question marks. But his determination for his son to succeed as a sporting professional is undeniable. And it is personal for Stefan, too. His own grandfather, Xander's great-grandfather, Richard was a 6ft 8ins 'monster' who played as a striker for Stuttgart before turning to athletics. He qualified for the Olympics discus event and was tipped for gold but injured his shoulder and would never reach the same heights again. HORROR CRASH Stuttgart-born Stefan inherited the sporting genes, initially in the long jump and javelin throw before joining the German national decathlon team. However, like his grandad, his career was cruelly ripped away from him when his car was hit head-on by a drink-driver in 1986. After six eye surgeries and two years in and out of hospital, he used the compensation payment to buy a one-way ticket to California, where he met Ping-Yi Chen, Xander's mother. The couple's first child tragically died of sudden infant death syndrome and they spent two years living in Tokyo, where Stefan discovered golf, a sport he found 'boring' but one he could play with his limited eyesight. So when Xander showed an interest in wanting to make a life out of the sport, Stefan was fully on board, regularly handing in sick notes at Xander's school to take him to the driving range. Now Schauffele has had three crowning moments in his illustrious career - and each one has a significant link to dad Stefan. The first was winning Olympic gold at the delayed Tokyo 2020 games four years ago. Xander gave Stefan - still coaching and representing him at the time - his precious medal. Xander said: 'That was a seriously emotional moment.' Stefan added: 'You're going to make me cry just thinking about it. 'He understood how huge the Olympics was for me. We got in the car and he gave me the medal and said, 'This is for you.'' I got some heckles for it but it's all good fun... it's a trophy that car Xander Schauffele Then came the PGA Championship win at Valhalla in May 2024 as Schauffele ditched his nearly-man tag by pipping Bryson DeChambeau by one shot. However, Stefan was not there to see his son become a Major champion. That is because he lives in a 20ft shipping container in the remote Hawaiian island of Kauai where he clears areas of jungle with a chainsaw. The mobile home - Stefan had been a 'complete hermit' before being forced to buy the semi-permanent pad - has no electricity or hot water. But he managed to find some electricity to watch the final seven holes of Xander's fourth round at the PGA. Then two months later, Stefan watched his son crowned Champion Golfer of the Year with his victory at Royal Troon. But despite career earnings about to reach £45million - he is 15th in the all-time PGA list - Xander has not lost touch with his humble roots, by still driving his 2015 Toyota Camry, a nod to his rental motor he would drive to qualifying rounds of tournaments ranked way down at No1,734 in the world. Schauffele - who turned down an offer worth a reported £150m from LIV Golf in 2022 - revealed: 'I drove it to Torrey Pines this year. 'I got some heckles for it but it's all good fun. 'It's a trophy that car. Those moments of despair are very important.' Come Sunday, Xander and Stefan will be hoping to keep hold of the other trophy for another year, too. 5 Stefan certainly had some unusual parenting choices Credit: Getty 5 Xander gave his father his Olympic medal and the Claret Jug for a year Credit: Getty
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Rory McIlroy to lead after round one and win The Open Championship is 40/1 with Sky Bet as Royal Portrush hosts season's final major
Rory McIlroy will be targeting a dream victory at The Open this weekend with the final major of the season taking place on home soil at Royal Portrush. The Northern Irishman showed good form in preparation for the tournament, as he finished as runner-up at the Scottish Open this week. McIlroy, the Masters champion is viewed as the second favourite for the Open behind world number one Scottie Scheffler. His prospects for the weekend are the subject of several RequestABets with Sky Bet ahead of the tournament, as McIlroy bids to win the Open for the first time since 2014. A 40/1 RequestABet is available, which requires McIlroy to lead after the first round and go on to win the tournament. Another features the top two favourites for the title, with Sky Bet offering odds of 16/1 for Scheffler to win and McIlroy to finish in the top five, including ties. There are also some eye-catching RequestABets involving the home favourite with wider odds. This includes a top region treble at 66/1, which requires Scheffler to close out as the top US finish, McIlroy the top European and Hideki Matsuyama as the top Asian golfer in the final leaderboard. A Masters repeat of McIlroy to win and Justin Rose to finish in the top five, including ties, is 80/1. Sky Bet RequestABets for The Open Championship: Rory McIlroy to lead after round one and win outright - 40/1 Scottie Scheffler to win and Rory McIlroy top five finish (Incl. ties) - 16/1 Top Region Treble: Scheffler Top USA, McIlroy Top European & Matsuyama Top Asian - 66/1
