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Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
The Open: Rory McIlroy finishes with a battling 66 as brilliant Scottie Scheffler storms clear
live | We'll bring you live updates here across the week Today at 06:30 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. one minute ago Adam McKendry Another drops back Tyrrell Hatton is the latest to lose a shot as he misses the green long and left at Calamity and can't make up-and-down from there, so he's back to -8. As a consequence, as it stands Rory McIlroy is in the penultimate group tomorrow afternoon. 6 minutes ago Adam McKendry Scheffler's unstoppable Even when it looks like he's going to drop a shot, he's able to scramble for par as he hits his chip to nine-feet and, even though it has a bit of right-to-left swing in it, he reads it just right and sees it drop for the par to stay -13. Rammed it in, too. That's a man who just has unlimited confidence. 9 minutes ago Rory McIlroy (-8): Saturday 66 That'll do. A two putt par on 18 completes a round that absolutely thrilled his fans out here at Royal Portrush. Chants of 'Rory, Rory, Rory' echoed across the final holes as the grand slam winner pulled himself up the leaderboard in an attempt to keep alive his hopes of winning The Open Championship at home. Just how realistic those hopes are going into the final round? Well that's now in the hands of world number one Scottie Scheffler. It was a round that included everything; three birdies in the opening four holes to turn Portrush electric, a freak incident with an unknown buried ball on 11, a bounce-back eagle and one more birdie for a final flourish. The dream lives on. 13 minutes ago Adam McKendry Scheffler in the thick of it He's drawn an ugly lie off the tee on the 14th down the left-hand side by the looks of things on the TV. How far he can advance it towards the green is another. This may be a hack out and rely on the short game job. And it will be. He does extremely well to advance it to just shy of the green and an up-and-down is needed to save par. 14 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Right side of the green Well, the wrong side to the pin. But it's in no danger, almost 50 feet out and you just never know! As Harry Diamond would say, 'he's Rory f**king McIlroy'. Hole that for 65. 15 minutes ago Adam McKendry Wood you look at that Lee Westwood breaks the 30-barrier for a nine-hole score as he lips out for birdie on 18 but still signs for an inward nine of 29 and a two-under 69 on Saturday to keep him relevant at -5. What a recovery from the Englishman. Adam McKendry Having Fitz Matt Fitzpatrick is having a really torrid time of it now as, after failing to birdie 12, he compounds it with a bogey at the par-three 13th having missed the green long and has dropped back into a share of third at -9. Only six holes ago he'd just had his last birdie and was one off the lead. 19 minutes ago Gareth Hanna He's ok off 18 Rory's tee shot heads towards the sand but is stopped by the semi rough. Well judged. Imagine what this 4,000 seater stand, and the thousands more down the fairway, will do if he gets this close. Boogaloo. 20 minutes ago Adam McKendry Hao about that Oh Haotong, that's a costly error. The China star three-putts the par-three 13th from 45 feet and he drops out of a share of second and into third at -9... ... but then immediately jumps back up into a share of second with Fitzpatrick as he bounces back with a birdie at the 14th thanks to a brilliant approach to nine feet! He is also, by the looks of this picture, a magician who can make putters float. If that was me then I would pack in the golf and make a killing in Vegas. 23 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Group-watch: Where will Rory be tomorrow? He's currently in a tie for fifth and could do with a birdie on the last if he is going to get into the penultimate group tomorrow. Unfortunately those have been at an absolute premium today. 27 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Problem, what problem? Rory lofts it skyward, pitches it beside the pin and it rolls on to just around 15 feet for birdie. The crowd are loving it. It's not quite Shane Saturday levels, but if this goes in it might get close. Edit: Unfortunately it was always right and never quite right. Tap-in par. Sure look, five minutes ago we'd have taken it. 28 minutes ago Adam McKendry Missed chance for the last group Two pars on the short par-five 12th for Scottie Scheffler and Matt Fitzpatrick as the former plays what, by his standards, is a poor approach with his third and simply two-putts, while the latter three-putts from the back of the green and looks sickened by it. He's stalled and can't get it back into gear. Scheffler's lead is still three at -13 over the Englishman. 31 minutes ago Gareth Hanna 'It's the right play but it must be in trouble' A member of the press comments as Rory hits driver, but hits it right. It's gone over 320 and not super off line but, again, all comes down to the lie. Edit: It's not great, now. Similar to where Scheffler was, close to 18th tee, last night. There's a blue barrier not too far away as well. To be continued. The difference to last night as well is that the pin is much tighter to the bunker Rory has to come over. Par would be just smashing, from here. 32 minutes ago Adam McKendry Back nine of the week? Lee Westwood has quietly put together an unbelievable back-nine performance, picking up six birdies and two pars thru 17 to pull himself back into the mix (just) at -5. The only two holes he parred - the two par-threes! 37 minutes ago Gareth Hanna RORY RORY RORY RORY His chant goes up from all angles between the 16th green and 17th tee. Then presumably around a screen far away, some shot or other is replayed and the chant goes up from there. Everyone back here joins in for another rendition. And then some guy chants 'United' afterwards. At least Rory wouldn't mind. 40 minutes ago Adam McKendry All-time club throw It comes from Robert MacIntyre, who pushes his approach shot into the par-four 14th to the left which is an absolute no-go on that hole and proceeds to spike his club into the ground with such ferocity that it recoils and spins into the air and out of shot of the camera. Might be the best one I've ever seen. You can't overly blame him, either, to be honest. He three-putted the par-five 12th for just a par and has now added a bogey on the 14th, so he drops back to -6 which is seven adrift. 42 minutes ago Adam McKendry Bunker bound for Scottie He's in one of the fairway traps on the par-five 12th which means he won't be going for the green in two and will it mean he misses the opportunity to extend his lead on the easiest hole on the course? Matt Fitzpatrick crushes one down the middle, so he will definitely be going for it in two. 46 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Phew. Survival. Rory's ball is grand down there and it's actually a simple enough chip uphill. Tap in par and it's another eruption from the crowd. That'll do just fine. One the third hardest hole today, he won't be losing a shot to the field with a par. 46 minutes ago Adam McKendry What a par save Any time it looks like the door might open, Scottie Scheffler slams it shut in the most emphatic of fashions. The par putt, with a slight left-to-right break, never looks like going anywhere but straight in the middle of the hole and he saves the four to remain -13... ... and open up a three-shot lead as Matt Fitzpatrick bogeys the same hole after finding a poor lie off the tie to fall back into a share of second alongside Haotong Li at -10. 50 minutes ago Adam McKendry Scheffler in trouble I'm not going to say big trouble just yet because I'm going off the TV footage but after hitting a pretty good drive on the par-four 11th, into the semi-rough down the right-hand side, he's hit an absolute shocker with his second and pulled it a mile left of the green and into the heavy stuff that Haotong Li got a fortunate bounce out of earlier. It may be okay and the video I'm watching just makes it look worse, but this could be a moment that opens the door. Edit: Until it's not. Incredible chip from the cabbage by the World No.1 and he'll have nine feet for par. It'll be a bogey at worst. Live Blog Software
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
The Open: Rory McIlroy fights hard at Portrush as brilliant Scottie Scheffler storms clear
live | We'll bring you live updates here across the week Today at 06:30 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. 3 minutes ago Adam McKendry Scheffler in the thick of it He's drawn an ugly lie off the tee on the 14th down the left-hand side by the looks of things on the TV. How far he can advance it towards the green is another. This may be a hack out and rely on the short game job. And it will be. He does extremely well to advance it to just shy of the green and an up-and-down is needed to save par. 4 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Right side of the green Well, the wrong side to the pin. But it's in no danger, almost 50 feet out and you just never know! As Harry Diamond would say, 'he's Rory f**king McIlroy'. Hole that for 65. 5 minutes ago Adam McKendry Wood you look at that Lee Westwood breaks the 30-barrier for a nine-hole score as he lips out for birdie on 18 but still signs for an inward nine of 29 and a two-under 69 on Saturday to keep him relevant at -5. What a recovery from the Englishman. 8 minutes ago Adam McKendry Having Fitz Matt Fitzpatrick is having a really torrid time of it now as, after failing to birdie 12, he compounds it with a bogey at the par-three 13th having missed the green long and has dropped back into a share of third at -9. Only six holes ago he'd just had his last birdie and was one off the lead. 9 minutes ago Gareth Hanna He's ok off 18 Rory's tee shot heads towards the sand but is stopped by the semi rough. Well judged. Imagine what this 4,000 seater stand, and the thousands more down the fairway, will do if he gets this close. Boogaloo. Adam McKendry Hao about that Oh Haotong, that's a costly error. The China star three-putts the par-three 13th from 45 feet and he drops out of a share of second and into third at -9... ... but then immediately jumps back up into a share of second with Fitzpatrick as he bounces back with a birdie at the 14th thanks to a brilliant approach to nine feet! He is also, by the looks of this picture, a magician who can make putters float. If that was me then I would pack in the golf and make a killing in Vegas. 13 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Group-watch: Where will Rory be tomorrow? He's currently in a tie for fifth and could do with a birdie on the last if he is going to get into the penultimate group tomorrow. Unfortunately those have been at an absolute premium today. 17 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Problem, what problem? Rory lofts it skyward, pitches it beside the pin and it rolls on to just around 15 feet for birdie. The crowd are loving it. It's not quite Shane Saturday levels, but if this goes in it might get close. Edit: Unfortunately it was always right and never quite right. Tap-in par. Sure look, five minutes ago we'd have taken it. 18 minutes ago Adam McKendry Missed chance for the last group Two pars on the short par-five 12th for Scottie Scheffler and Matt Fitzpatrick as the former plays what, by his standards, is a poor approach with his third and simply two-putts, while the latter three-putts from the back of the green and looks sickened by it. He's stalled and can't get it back into gear. Scheffler's lead is still three at -13 over the Englishman. 21 minutes ago Gareth Hanna 'It's the right play but it must be in trouble' A member of the press comments as Rory hits driver, but hits it right. It's gone over 320 and not super off line but, again, all comes down to the lie. Edit: It's not great, now. Similar to where Scheffler was, close to 18th tee, last night. There's a blue barrier not too far away as well. To be continued. The difference to last night as well is that the pin is much tighter to the bunker Rory has to come over. Par would be just smashing, from here. 22 minutes ago Adam McKendry Back nine of the week? Lee Westwood has quietly put together an unbelievable back-nine performance, picking up six birdies and two pars thru 17 to pull himself back into the mix (just) at -5. The only two holes he parred - the two par-threes! 27 minutes ago RORY RORY RORY RORY His chant goes up from all angles between the 16th green and 17th tee. Then presumably around a screen far away, some shot or other is replayed and the chant goes up from there. Everyone back here joins in for another rendition. And then some guy chants 'United' afterwards. At least Rory wouldn't mind. 30 minutes ago Adam McKendry All-time club throw It comes from Robert MacIntyre, who pushes his approach shot into the par-four 14th to the left which is an absolute no-go on that hole and proceeds to spike his club into the ground with such ferocity that it recoils and spins into the air and out of shot of the camera. Might be the best one I've ever seen. You can't overly blame him, either, to be honest. He three-putted the par-five 12th for just a par and has now added a bogey on the 14th, so he drops back to -6 which is seven adrift. 32 minutes ago Adam McKendry Bunker bound for Scottie He's in one of the fairway traps on the par-five 12th which means he won't be going for the green in two and will it mean he misses the opportunity to extend his lead on the easiest hole on the course? Matt Fitzpatrick crushes one down the middle, so he will definitely be going for it in two. 36 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Phew. Survival. Rory's ball is grand down there and it's actually a simple enough chip uphill. Tap in par and it's another eruption from the crowd. That'll do just fine. One the third hardest hole today, he won't be losing a shot to the field with a par. 36 minutes ago Adam McKendry What a par save Any time it looks like the door might open, Scottie Scheffler slams it shut in the most emphatic of fashions. The par putt, with a slight left-to-right break, never looks like going anywhere but straight in the middle of the hole and he saves the four to remain -13... ... and open up a three-shot lead as Matt Fitzpatrick bogeys the same hole after finding a poor lie off the tie to fall back into a share of second alongside Haotong Li at -10. 40 minutes ago Adam McKendry Scheffler in trouble I'm not going to say big trouble just yet because I'm going off the TV footage but after hitting a pretty good drive on the par-four 11th, into the semi-rough down the right-hand side, he's hit an absolute shocker with his second and pulled it a mile left of the green and into the heavy stuff that Haotong Li got a fortunate bounce out of earlier. It may be okay and the video I'm watching just makes it look worse, but this could be a moment that opens the door. Edit: Until it's not. Incredible chip from the cabbage by the World No.1 and he'll have nine feet for par. It'll be a bogey at worst. 42 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Next up: Calamity It's 239 yards today with a strong breeze off the left towards the garbage. Rory on the tee. Not good. Rory's gone short right. The place you don't want to be here. It all depends on the lie now. We have seen somebody hole it from down there this week so… 44 minutes ago Adam McKendry Soft touch Tyrrell Hatton is in a bit of bother short of the green on the par-five 12th... until he's not. A masterful touch from the hollow short right of the putting surface allows him to bounce it up and check it right next to the hole for the easiest of tap-in birdies and he is into solo fourth at -9. 46 minutes ago Adam McKendry Chinese fortune Haotong Li makes the most of a massive bit of luck on 11 as his approach shot hits off the rough bank to the left of the green and, instead of getting caught in the fescue, bounces down onto the putting surface instead. Not content just to take his par and move on, the Chinese star holes the big left-to-right breaking putt from 21-feet and he's up to -10, just three back. Live Blog Software
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
The Open: Stunning Rory McIlroy eagle fires him back into contention at Portrush as Scottie Scheffler storms clear
live | We'll bring you live updates here across the week 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. 5 minutes ago Adam McKendry Spending time with the natives Rory McIlroy's drive on the par-four 14th is into the 'native area' down the right-hand side - we await to see exactly what that means. It's not the right side of the fairway to be on, either, as the green cambers away from you towards the big, deep bunker. But he navigates it well, chopping it out of a thick lie and into the centre of the green, which should be a safe two-putt if he can't convert from around 30-feet. 12 minutes ago Adam McKendry Not enough break As soon as he hits it McIlroy knows he hasn't given the putt on 13 enough break and it dives low quickly, staying up and out. It's a par, though, which doesn't kill the momentum and keeps him safely at -7. 15 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Amid the mania - one man stays calm As eruptions are going off around him - and he'll have heard every bit of it - Scottie Scheffler is in for birdie at eight to go to -13, and three under par for the day. Cool as ice. 17 minutes ago Adam McKendry And now a chance on 13 Given what he just did on the 12th, a 22-footer for birdie on the 13th should be a piece of cake, no? That's what Rory has left himself on the downhill par-three and if he could put this one in, too, then there would be bedlam in the two stands that flank the 13th and 17th greens. 19 minutes ago Adam McKendry I've been fortunate enough to witness a fair few of Rory McIlroy's magic moments in person, but that eagle putt might rival them all. It might not have been to win a tournament but the crowd knew how important that was. What a roar. Belfast Telegraph sports reporter Adam McKendry 19 minutes ago Gareth Hanna That's the roar of the week so far That shuddered across the whole golf course. It could only be Rory - as it was seen on screens around Royal Portrush and more after-shock cheers went up, every single person knew exactly who it was and how good it was. Fever pitch. 24 minutes ago Adam McKendry Watch: Eagle for Rory McIlroy delivers crowd's roar of the week HE DRAINED IT. 56 FEET. RORY McILROY EAGLE ON 12. And the crowd go absolutely bananas. That's the loudest roar of the day by a country mile and McIlroy salutes the fans with a hearty fist pump as he gets the shot back from 11 and adds another for good measure. That's surely got to light the touch paper. What a moment. McIlroy up to -7. The Open on Twitter / X It's ridiculous. It's Portrush will remember this one. The Open (@TheOpen) July 19, 2025 External contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties. 26 minutes ago Adam McKendry Eagle chance coming up But he's not happy with it. McIlroy with a floated approach into the par-five 12th with a short-iron and he's got 56 feet for the eagle, but he knows he should have put that a lot closer from there. Should be a surefire birdie at worst, but if he could roll this in then that would reignite things in a big way. 27 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Top two getting going It was bound to happen eventually and there's no surprise that it happens at the par five seventh. Scottie Scheffler is under par for the day - and in some style. A super second puts him just 10 feet out for eagle and he duly converts to set the new pace at -12. Matt Fitzpatrick gets a birdie to at least stay within one. The Open on Twitter / X Biding his six pars, Scottie has an eagle in round three. The Open (@TheOpen) July 19, 2025 32 minutes ago Adam McKendry Venom in the drive on 12 That one is plastered by McIlroy and you feel like he put some of his 11 frustration into that. 362 off the tee, 159 to the flag. 36 minutes ago Adam McKendry First dropped shot That's a first bogey of the day for Rory on 11 as he plays for a right to left break that never comes, the putt holding straight the whole way and missing right, prompting an exasperated groan from the crowd. An unlucky bogey, yes, but a bogey nonetheless and he falls back to -5. 39 minutes ago Adam McKendry Some real anger The embedded ball situation has really frustrated Rory and he takes his anger out on the fairway after chipping up onto the green but leaving himself well short for par, giving himself a 24-footer. Harry Diamond won't have been expecting to have to repair a divot there but Rory took a fair chunk out of the fairway with an angry swipe following the chip. He is not happy. 43 minutes ago Adam McKendry Freak incident for Rory McIlroy on 11 There was an unseen, old, embedded ball right beside Rory's ball in the rough. It popped up as Rory hit his shot, and it means his approach shot has come up short of the green. How about that for a bad break!? Kyle Porter on Twitter / X This looks like a magic trick. Kyle Porter (@KylePorterNS) July 19, 2025 External contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties. 46 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? 50 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. 50 minutes ago 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. 53 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. 57 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. 60 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. Today 11:45 AM 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. Today 11:37 AM 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. Live Blog Software
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
The Open: Rory McIlroy's momentum stalls after flying start at Portrush
live | We'll bring you live updates here across the week 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 eagle on 7 takes him to seven-under. 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 Schauffele moves up to 5th with his second eagle of the day. 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.
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
The Open: Shane Lowry's two-shot penalty as Rory McIlroy grinds his way back into contention at Portrush
Today 02:43 PM Adam McKendry 'We're looking to get two spots better than last time': Tony Finau is aiming high after a 68 leaves him at -4 On his repeated success at Portrush:"I'm playing the golf course a lot differently than I did in '19. The conditions are a little bit different, but I'm hitting a lot of different clubs off the tee. I'm a little more aggressive. This year I'm hitting more drivers than I did in '19. But that's just the way I'm playing and the way I see it right now. But it is nice to come back to a golf course you've had some success and had a nice finish. We're looking to get two spots better than last time." Having an Irish caddy on the bag:"Colin Byrne is my caddie this week. He's obviously a very well-known caddie. He caddied for Retief Goosen for many years and had a lot of success with him. But being on this side of the pond, he's from Ireland so it's pretty cool to have him on the bag, knows this golf course pretty well, and he's definitely been helpful the first two days. He came pretty highly recommended when I was looking for a guy here this week. I can see why. He's got a lot of experience, veteran caddie. He's been on the Tour for many years and also caddied on LIV. So he's been around the block and caddied for a lot of great players. I thought he'd be a good fit for me this week."
