The Open: Rory McIlroy's momentum stalls after flying start at Portrush

Irish Independent

19-07-2025

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Gareth Hanna and Adam McKendry
It's a massive week in Royal Portrush as the 153rd Open Championship takes place.
We will bring you all the action from the course all week as Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry lead the Irish challenge.
2 minutes ago
Adam McKendry
Count your lucky stars Rory
His ball has landed on the spectator walkway so not only is the lie fine but he has a line to the green and all. The pin is tucked in on the right so it will be tough to set up a birdie chance but par is back on the cards.
Now why can't I get a big crowd to follow me during my rounds and trample down the areas I usually hit it into?
6 minutes ago
Adam McKendry
That's not right
But it is right off the 11th tee for Rory McIlroy. It's a tee shot he's struggled with all week and it's another pushed into the fescue that might just be a hack out and try to get up and down for par. Either way, putting a four on the card would be a good outcome from here.
6 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Tough finish
The crowd gathered on 18 haven't been given much to cheer today. Of 36 players now in the clubhouse, only two have made birdie. They were Corey Conners in the first group out and Thriston Lawrence soon after.
Add to that Calamity showing its teeth - allowing just three birdies (for Francesco Molinari, Jon Rahm and Dean Burmester), and ther final three holes are sorting the men from the boys today.
9 minutes ago
Adam McKendry
The putter has gone ice cold
Rory hasn't had a birdie since the fourth but he's had plenty of looks, he just can't find the putt to drop. The latest one, on 10, looks like it might have a little bit more turn on it at the last second but McIlroy's hung it out too far and it stays above ground.
He's not hurting himself with these pars but he's not helping himself either. Still -6, which is unthinkable after that start.
13 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Knock-out blow from Hatton!
He's only gone and holed it from 139-yards at the par five seventh for eagle! And all of a sudden the Englishman is at -8 and solo fourth, three under for the day.
15 minutes ago
Adam McKendry
Different crowd reactions
The crowd behind Rory love his approach into 10, the crowd by the green not quite so much, and it's they who are probably more accurate as he's 20 feet away for the birdie. The approach game hasn't been as sharp as it was in the opening few holes.
16 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
It's tough at the top
Are there some nerves in the final three groups? I mean, you'd understand. The final six players out have made just three birdies between them - and Fitzpatrick's eagle. They're combined scores are level par for the day, allowing the chasing back - such as Rory McIlroy - to make some ground.
It doesn't look like there will be birdies for Fitzpatrick or Scheffler at five, either. Both short-side themselves off the tee, meaning they have to aim their chips well left and both are over 20 feet out.
25 minutes ago
Adam McKendry
33
That's how many strokes it's taken Rory McIlroy to play the front nine as he two-putts for his par and turns at -6, four back.
Needs to get something going on the back nine.
Jordan Smith took 37 for his outward nine, he's back at -2.
26 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Big bird for Bob?
The Scotsman is on the par five seventh in two - and he's inside seven feet for eagle. roll that and he catapults his way to -7 alongside his national champion Chris Gotterup.
Edit: It's in! Robert MacIntyre is just three back.
The Open on Twitter / X
MacIntyre's into the mix.An eagle on 7 takes him to seven-under. pic.twitter.com/ncNpm36kXB— The Open (@TheOpen) July 19, 2025
27 minutes ago
Adam McKendry
Another long putt
Rory tried to use the slope behind the ninth green to bring the ball back down to the hole, chopping it out of the rough and onto the fringe, but it doesn't come back as he'd like and he's left with 35 feet down the hill for the birdie.
The hot start has very much cooled down now.
29 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Double eagle for Xander
No, dear Americans, I don't mean an albatross. Because that's called an albatross. I mean that Xander has two eagles today! He did it at the par five seventh and he's added another at the par five 12th to hit four-under for the day and -6 overall.
The Open on Twitter / X
It's called moving day for a reason.Xander Schauffele moves up to 5th with his second eagle of the day. pic.twitter.com/edDOg0ZYhr— The Open (@TheOpen) July 19, 2025
31 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Shane Lowry (+3) on a Saturday 74: 'I should have enjoyed it more'
The 2019 champ was 11 shots worse off today than R3 six years ago, when he hit his course record 63. However, he explained afterwards that he's fallen victim to a virus that's rampaged through his house. Add that to last night's two-shot penalty and it's been a rough 24-hours.
He said:"I didn't enjoy today as much as I would have liked. Saturday at The Open in your home country, I should enjoy it a lot more than I did, just because of how I felt. Hopefully I get out tomorrow morning and try and enjoy it as best I can, try to shoot the best score I can, and then have a couple weeks off before the playoffs. For me, my big mindset for the next few months is about the Ryder Cup and trying to win that. That's where all my work is going to go towards over the next while."
On the two-shot penalty: "I'm not too keen to talk on it too much. I think we said enough about it last night. Quite supportive, I would say, from the other players. They all feel bad for me that two shots is a lot to give up. Yeah, I don't really have much else to say actually."
On the afternoon outlook:"There's a score out there. Tough pins, but there's a score. You can see there's a few good scores. You see Rory is off to a hot start. This golf course isn't playing easier than it is today. Firm fairways, the greens are receptive."
This sign said 'Go Rory' the other day - there's room for a love for both.
33 minutes ago
Adam McKendry
"You're my hero!"
Some of the cries from the fans out here are hilarious as Rory looks tentatively after his drive on the par-four ninth, but the claps further down the fairway suggest that he's okay - although once he gets there he discovers the lie is a little choppy.
It's not going to be an easy birdie here, the pin is tucked into the back right of this green, but he's in a good position to attack if he wants to try.
38 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Scheffler not making ground
At risk of jinxing this (from a Rory perspective), Scheffler is a long way away for birdie on the fourth. Providing he doesn't railroad that into the cup, McIlroy will have made up three shots on the overnight leader across the opening four holes as Scheffler starts with level pars. Fitzpatrick is a little closer but again it's only an outside chance to make it to -11.
Edit: Correct. Pars for both.
40 minutes ago
Adam McKendry
Very impressive
I don't want to keep harping on about the crowds but the people following Rory are about ten deep around the eighth green. The pull he has us simply unparalleled, especially on home soil.
His putts aren't bad either as he gives the birdie attempt on the eighth from 40-feet a chance, just missing low, and then cleans up for the par to stay at -6.
He could really do with a birdie soon, though. The longer he keeps parring, the more difficult it will be to put a red number on the card again.
46 minutes ago
Adam McKendry
There she blows
The wind, I mean. Rory teed off in benign conditions but up on the par-four eighth fairway, which he has found the middle of with a fine tee shot, it's starting to get quite strong, it must be said. That might be a factor in the late afternoon scores.
It wasn't a factor on his approach, though. Not a great swing and he's left himself 40 feet for birdie.
50 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Knee-knocker for Scottie
His approach to the par three third is off the back and he opts to putt back onto the green, but it's too heavy and rolls the best part of 10 feet past. After a three-putt at two, that'll cause more than a few nerves for par.
It hasn't exactly been a rock solid start with the flat-stick, considering he raced his birdie attempt past on one, as well.
In the side door. If that had slipped out, it would certainly have livened things up. Stays -10 alongside Fitzpatrick, who taps in for par.
52 minutes ago
Adam McKendry
"F**k"
It's very loud and fortunately it's from the crowd and not from Rory McIlroy, which draws a few laughs.
There are none from McIlroy, though. His birdie putt on the seventh slides inches wide on the low side and the putter slams against his leg in frustration. He knows that's a big chance gone and it does feel like parring both the fifth and seventh has killed his momentum.
53 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
All rise
Moves are being made. Haotog Li gets a two at the second to climb to within one of the lead.
Up to -6 are playing partners Tony Finau and Chris Gotterup after they both birdied the driveable par four fifth.
Further on in the course, Justin Rose birdied five of six holes from 2-7 but his progress was stunted by bogeys either side. He's at -5 on the ninth.
56 minutes ago
Adam McKendry
Heavy metal
After a stunning drive, Rory McIlroy has made a bit of mess of the seventh as he left his second shot 24 yards short and has been very heavy on the chip shot, running it a good 20 feet past. Still a chance for a birdie but not the tap-in he would have been expecting.
Today 10:59 AM
Gareth Hanna
Par five battle
While Rory booms one down the middle on seven, Scheffler is on the green in two back at the second. He has over 50 feet to the pin, so he's only looking at the remotest chance of eagle, but it looks like the world number one is going to -11 and maybe even three clear. Ominous.
Eagle for Fitzy!
Errrr... scratch that! Just as Fitzpatrick short-sides himself into two and looks like it'll be an impressive up-and-down just for birdie, he's only gone and canned it for eagle! Bounce-back big bird and the Englishman goes to -10. Game on.
And Scheffler three-putts
And Scheffler three-rolls! What a swing. Now it's all tied at the top at 10 under. And it means, comparing their opening two holes, Rory has officially got one of the seven back on the overnight leader.