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Reuters
16 minutes ago
- Reuters
Cut made, now McIlroy excited for weekend charge at Open
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland, July 18 (Reuters) - Home favourite Rory McIlroy achieved the first part of his mission at Royal Portrush on Friday -- making the cut. Now the 36-year-old cannot wait for the weekend's battle as he seeks a second British Open title. "I'm excited for that opportunity. I didn't have this opportunity six years ago, so to play an extra two days in this atmosphere in front of these crowds, I'm very excited, the five-time major champion said after a two-under 69 second round kept him firmly in the mix fore the Claret Jug. McIlroy arrived at Portrush this week desperate to banish the demons of 2019 when, on the course he used to play as a child and where he broke the course record aged 16, he endured a nightmare, missing the weekend after a first-round 79. His opening round 70 was a roller-coaster ride of birdies and bogeys in which he found only two fairways. Blessed with calmer conditions for his second round, McIlroy again mixed good with bad in front of the huge galleries who flocked to cheer on the local hero. Having holed a birdie on the first, he scrambled for par on the second after nearly driving out of bounds, bogeyed the par-three third following a misjudged tee shot, birdied the fourth and bogeyed the fifth before settling down. He tapped in a birdie at the 12th and triggered a huge roar as a 17-foot putt for birdie disappeared at the 14th. It was not exactly a Rory charge but at three-under the Masters champion is only a handful of shots off the lead. "Another solid day. A couple under, improved a little bit on yesterday, hit it in play a little bit more off the tee, which was nice to have some looks out of the fairway," said McIlroy, whose Augusta win this year finally completed his career slam. "It was a good day. I feel like I maybe could be a couple closer to the lead, but overall I'm in a decent position heading into the weekend." After showing flashes of his best so far, McIlroy said he will have to find another gear if he is to be challenging down the stretch on Sunday, especially off the tee where his accuracy ranks 148th out of the 156 starters. "I know what I need to do to get the best out of myself in an environment like that," he said. "I've been somewhat close to my best over the first two days in little bits here and there. "I'm going to need to have it all under control and have it sort of all firing over the weekend to make a run."
The Independent
17 minutes ago
- The Independent
Open golf has put Portrush on the map, say proud locals
The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush is putting the Co Antrim town on the global map, delighted locals have said. Tens of thousands of people turned out for day two of the tournament, with some of the biggest crowds cheering for local hero Rory McIlroy as well as Dubliner Shane Lowry who scooped the Claret Jug the last time the Open came to Portrush in 2019. Almost 280,000 fans snapped up tickets for the Open, with many also enjoying the expansive beaches and hospitality despite the inclement weather. Broadcaster Alan Simpson said it is a phenomenon. 'It's the biggest sporting event ever in Ireland, and it's being held in the tiniest corner of the north west of Northern Ireland,' he said. 'It's putting Portrush on the map right across the world, I'm getting emails and messages from Canada, from China, Japan, all over the world, people saying, 'I didn't realise your beaches were so golden', they're not really talking about the golf, they're talking about the beaches and the view. 'You couldn't pay for this publicity, you just couldn't. 'The other good thing is you see the golfers socialising in Portrush, they come in, I chatted to Ricky Fowler and Patrick Cantlay the other evening just sitting having a meal. No one hassles them, it's that very Northern Ireland thing is welcoming. 'Portrush has now become a 12 months of the year destination, we've got Curry's (funfair), which has regenerated all of Portrush and more families coming. You see grandfathers, sons, daughters, grandkids, there is so much to do. 'We all know about the golf, it sells itself but we've got the beaches and the surf, and new hotels. 'I call it Portmagic and it is Portmagic at the minute because people around the world are seeing a wonderful postcard of our peninsula.' Lauren Mullikin from Indiana was enjoying the golf with family, described the local scenery as beautiful. 'My dad has always wanted to go to the Open, and we took a family trip to Ireland in 1998, so he thought it would be a great time to get us all together – my sister lives in Germany – for his 70th birthday and celebrate,' she said. 'Portrush is beautiful, it's been so much fun, and everybody is so friendly and nice to talk to. 'We've done Shannon and Galway before but we have not been here before. 'The memories I will take away are spending time with my son, introducing him to golf, he's very interested in the idea of golf but doesn't really want to play it, and there was no way he was going to stand at the Open and watch it peacefully, so we had fun in Portrush. 'We're going to remember this forever, him exploring and doing a whole bunch of things that he's normally really scared of doing.' Eleanor Tunn and Sandy Sutherland, from the Scottish Highlands, took in two practice days as well as the first day of play on Thursday. 'We've been staying in the glamping village, just a stone's throw from the golf course but of course coming into the town as well, and trying a few bars,' Ms Tunn said. 'We're both really keen golfers, we went to Troon last year, and St Andrew's a couple of years ago. 'I'd never been to Ireland before so I wanted to tick that off my list … we've already said we fancy a golf trip here.' Mr Sutherland added: 'Where we're staying, you can look over the course, it's beautiful, it's one of the most scenic courses I've ever seen, stunning. 'The Open hasn't been in Ireland a lot so we thought we'd come, only the second time in 50 years. 'Seeing Rory in a home course was pretty cool as well after winning the Masters.' Denver Smith and his son, Matthew, from Dungannon, were cheering on both Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke. 'We've a keen interest in the golf, Darren Clarke and, obviously, Rory, it's good to see the boys doing well and hopefully Darren will make the cut for the weekend and will thrive,' Denver said. 'We need another winner from Ireland, and hopefully this time it will be from the north of Ireland.' Matthew said they had also been to Portrush when it hosted the Open in 2019, and said it was much busier this time. 'The town is much busier, and even the course is busier, more people about,' he said.
The Independent
17 minutes ago
- The Independent
Bryson DeChambeau tips Trump's Turnberry as ‘worthy' host of The Open
Bryson DeChambeau has tipped President Donald Trump 's Turnberry golf course to host The Open in the future and end its inactive role on the R&A's 10-venue British Open rotation. The Scottish golf course has not hosted the prestigious event for 16 years, with its last iteration back in 2009. And DeChambeau, who shot a stunning six-under-par round of 65 at Royal Portrush to make the cut and sit +1 for the major overall at the half-way stage, has backed Trump's course to prove a worthy host once more. 'I look at it as a golf course,' said DeChambeau, whose round of golf with the president has amassed more than 15 million views on YouTube. 'It's one of the best golf courses in the world, and I'd love for it to be a part of the rotation. 'Albeit I haven't played it, I've heard so many great things about it, and anytime you get to play a special historical golf course like that, I think it's worthy of it, for sure.' The Ayrshire course last saw 59-year-old Tom Watson make a bogey on the 72nd hole with Stewart Cink prevailing in a playoff. Speaking ahead of the Open being played this week at Royal Portrush, R&A chief executive Mark Darbon said transportation and other issues had to be addressed before Turnberry got its hands on the oldest major championship again. Darbon said the R&A met with Eric Trump and other leaders of Trump Golf a few months ago regarding the 'big logistical challenges' facing Turnberry, and that the talks had been constructive. DeChambeau believes Trump would make Turnberry a special Open venue. 'He'd still probably respect the R&A and what they're trying to accomplish,' DeChambeau said. 'I can't speak on his behalf, but what I can say is knowing him, he'll do his best of a job as he possibly can.' DeChambeau's relationship with Trump is such that he joined him on stage at an election party in Florida in November before Trump was declared president again. DeChambeau also had a round of golf with Trump and some short-game practice on the South Lawn of the White House a few months ago. So what of his audience with Trump around this time last year, when they attempted to break 50 off the forward tees at the president's Bedminster Golf Club in New Jersey using the scramble format? It went on YouTube and was a huge success. 'Got like 15 million views or something,' DeChambeau said. 'It was fun.' DeChambeau was speaking after shooting 6-under 65 in the second round of the Open at Royal Portrush in a bid to make the cut, having opened with a 78. AP contributed to this report
