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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
British Open 2025: Xander Schauffele says only a 'blackout' performance is going to catch Scottie Scheffler
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland – Xander Schauffele figured he needed a 'blackout' performance Sunday at The Open to have any chance of catching Scottie Scheffler, who continued to pull away from the field at Royal Portrush. Despite a third-round 66 that moved him into the top 10 at the year's final major, Schauffele has learned, repeatedly, how difficult it is when you spot the world No. 1 a commanding lead. In fact, when pressed to explain exactly what a 'blackout' performance was, he deferred to Scheffler. 'Blackout would just be you're so in your own world. For me, when I use the word 'blackout' in golf, it's like when I watch Scottie play a lot, he just looks blacked out to me, just doing his thing,' said Schauffele, who is at 7 under. 'He's just in his own world and nothing's going to bother him. He gets to that place often, which is a good thing for him.' Schauffele added there are multiple definitions for 'blackout.' 'It's used in different terms. If you drink a few too many, if you go to Harbour Bar, there might be a few blackedout guys there,' Schauffele smiled. If Scheffler continues his blackout performance Sunday at Royal Portrush, the rest of the field may opt for that second definition and head to the Harbour Bar for a few Guinness.
Belfast Telegraph
6 days ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
The Open: Rory McIlroy one off the lead and meet the Buddhist monk who's also in contention
Key updates Meet the Buddhist monk who's one shot off the lead Pivotal point in Rory's week already? The Open Guinness tracker: Where's the cheapest pint in Portrush this week? Darren Clarke on shooting a 75: 'Maybe I should have spent more time in the Harbour Bar!' Round one tee times one minute ago Gareth Hanna Hands across Hadrian's Wall Scot Robert MacIntyre and English Justin Rose are having a nice battle in their group, both under par since the middle of their front nines. It's just gone advantage England as Rose holed for birdie on 11 to go to -2, one clear of MacIntyre who was forced to make a nice recovery for par. Solid. 6 minutes ago BIRDIE! The crowd go wild as this one drops for McIlroy and he's one shot off the lead at -3 after his third birdie in six holes! 9 minutes ago Rory's roring again The approach play over the last few holes in particular has been sublime from McIlroy and he's pulled another rabbit out of the hat on the par-four 10th, chopping it out of the rough to the left of the fairway and using the contours of the green to roll it up to six feet shy of the pin and another birdie chance. It doesn't have to drop but, after the disappointment of the eighth, it would be a very timely one to see go in. 15 minutes ago Gareth Hanna What about the adopted Ulsterman? A huge hit with the fans this week but Bryson DeChambeau hasn't made a single birdie out there today at +3 through 10. A double at four, when he had trouble on the bank, did most of the damage. Also successfully birdie-free is Jordan Spieth in the afternoon's second featured group, and a shot worse off after a front nine 40. Ouch. 20 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Is there a hole there? Three putts, three misses for Rory's group on nine which means par for McIlroy (-2), bogey for Fleetwood (+2) and double for Thomas (E). 'I thought I was going to black out': Estonian amateur Richard Teder, who chipped in in a Play-Off to qualify for the event and shot 74 His nerves over his first tee shot:"A bit crazy on the 1st hole. I thought I was going to black out. I told myself it's another golf shot. It's a 2-iron, my favourite club. The whole day was just unbelievable. The crowds, the fans. It was special." Royal Portrush:"The course is very difficult. If you hit a bad shot, you're not in a good spot. Hit loads of great shots today, just my putter wasn't really working today, which just happens. It's golf, right? But I'm happy about today." Can he make the cut?:"Just try to hang in there, to be honest. Make a lot of pars. Just couldn't make any putts, which 3-over is not that bad for not making anything. I'm happy." 34 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Mixed fortunes at nine Iron off the tee for Rory and it's perfectly 259 yards down the middle, while Fleetwood and JT find the rough either side of the fairway. Rory safely on in two while the other pair can only pitch out short. With his third, JT short-sides himself again and that's a very tough up and down just to save bogey. He could be on his way back to level par. Fleetwood gives himself a chance for par from 15 feet. 34 minutes ago Anybody else want the lead? It's now a SIX-way tie as Lucas Glover, who started birdie-eagle but had done nothing since, has taken advantage of the par-five seventh and he gets to -4 too! Will anybody actually bother to get to -5 or is that as good as it's going to get? There's also a move from France's Romain Langasque, who has picked up three shots in two holes by birdieing the 11th and then eagling the 12th to get to -3! 42 minutes ago Ouch. Ouch. Ouch. Rory misses the birdie putt. Gave it too much break on the right-hand side and the six-footer stays above ground. That would have been the one to light the touch paper. Instead he stays -2 and two back of the leading quintet. Meanwhile, it ended up being a good hole for Justin Thomas as he chips in from short of the green for birdie and he's up to -2! 44 minutes ago You Bez believe it again! We have a five-way tie for the lead as Christiaan Bezuidenhout comes up with the goods on the par-five 12th, hitting the green in two and driving in the 27-foot eagle putt to move to -4! 46 minutes ago Rory. McIlroy. Fresh off nearly holing out for eagle on the seventh, Rory McIlroy nearly does the same thing on the par-four eighth as he follows up a 300-yard drive into the wind with a majestic wedge that carves through the air and lands an inch from the pin! That'll be another short putt for birdie to go one shot off the lead! 49 minutes ago Hot Harris I haven't seen a single shot he has played today, even though he's in the group behind Rory McIlroy and is now tied for the lead, but Harris English moves to four-under-par with his fifth birdie in his opening seven holes! He's even had time to drop a shot and, amazingly, it was on the par-four fifth which is the easiest hole on the course! This has to go down as a psycho scorecard. 54 minutes ago He's in the zone McIlroy. Eighth tee. Pulverised straight down the middle and the tee is out of the ground before the ball has even reached its apex. We're cooking with gas now. 57 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Rory McIlroy - within two Tap in putt secured and the crowd goes up another notch. They feel like it's on! Birdies all round - Fleetwood is having one of those days where every putt is a near miss. And such is the case for his eagle attempt. After 7 McIlroy -2 Thomas -1 Fleetwood +1 57 minutes ago Worth a few Bob Robert MacIntyre is a links specialist and he's proven it once again with back-to-back birdies on the seventh and eighth to move to -3 and one shot off the lead! He's talked in the build-up to this tournament that he loves Royal Portrush - will the course give some love back to him this week? Meanwhile, Tyrrell Hatton is still at -3 after finishing the ninth hole but only after draining a monster putt for par following a chip shot that went too long from right of the green. Those are momentum savers. Today 04:22 PM Gareth Hanna It's getting going out here now Super pitch nipped in and Rory has what looks like a kick in birdie from here. He should pitch out on every hole! The fans are going for it now. That should be him up to -2 and they can sense a march is coming. Eagle attempt up the hill coming for Fleetwood after a super second while JT is just out the back in two. Today 04:14 PM Gareth Hanna Hold up on hole seven A long wait as three groups are all on the par five seventh at once. Never does anybody any good, that. And Rory hits it left. It's thick and lying down with some thick stuff folding in around it. Won't be getting up in two but that did him a favour on the second. Rory lucky enough with the second shot as it takes one hop in the thick stuff and comes back down into the semi rough. He can't see it from where he is and will be pleasantly surprised with that result. Fleetwood and JT are all good off the tee so could go for it in two. Today 04:10 PM Meet the Buddhist monk who's one shot off the lead Sadom Kaewkanjana is 262nd in the world rankings. Sadom Kaewkanjana has never played at a level higher than the Asian Tour. Sadom Kaewkanjana has played in just one event since May and missed the cut in it. Sadom Kaewkanjana is an ordained Buddhist monk. Sadom Kaewkanjana didn't have any luggage until 8pm on Wednesday because it got lost in transit from Thailand. Sadom Kaewkanjana is currently one shot off the lead at The Open Championship after parring the last for a three-under-par 68, the same score as the World No.1. Because golf. Today 03:59 PM Keep your Hatton Tyrrell Hatton, who has finished in the top-10 of a Major twice in the last two years, is threatening again as he has an eagle putt on the par-five seventh to take a share of the lead... no. It stays short but it's a tap-in for birdie and the Englishman makes it another LIV player in the mix as he moves one shot back of the lead trio. All of a sudden the leaderboard is becoming quite bunched, to the extent that -1 is tied-19th. Live Blog Software
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
The Open: Rory McIlroy moving along nicely as Shane Lowry signs off with a 70 at Royal Portrush
We will bring you all the action from the course all week as Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry lead the Irish challenge. Key updates Pivotal point in Rory's week already? The Open Guinness tracker: Where's the cheapest pint in Portrush this week? Darren Clarke on shooting a 75: 'Maybe I should have spent more time in the Harbour Bar!' Round one tee times 2 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Hold up on hole seven A long wait as three groups are all on the par five seventh at once. Never does anybody any good, that. And Rory hits it left. It's thick and lying down with some thick stuff folding in around it. Won't be getting up in two but that did him a favour on the second. Fleetwood and JT are all good so could go for it in two 6 minutes ago Adam McKendry The joy of The Open Sadom Kaewkanjana is 262nd in the world rankings. Sadom Kaewkanjana has never played at a level higher than the Asian Tour. Sadom Kaewkanjana has played in just one event since May and missed the cut in it. Sadom Kaewkanjana is currently one shot off the lead at The Open Championship after parring the last for a three-under-par 68, the same score as the World No.1. Because golf. 17 minutes ago Adam McKendry Keep your Hatton Tyrrell Hatton, who has finished in the top-10 of a Major twice in the last two years, is threatening again as he has an eagle putt on the par-five seventh to take a share of the lead... no. It stays short but it's a tap-in for birdie and the Englishman makes it another LIV player in the mix as he moves one shot back of the lead trio. All of a sudden the leaderboard is becoming quite bunched, to the extent that -1 is tied-19th. 18 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Sad news to report I regret to inform you that somebody shouted 'GET IN THE HOOOOLE' after Rory hit his putt. A dark day for Irish golf. 19 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Rory had that, you know Par at the par three 6th for McIlroy as his birdie putt stops a foot short. Looked like it was going in if it had been hit. Almost a super two from Fleetwood as his curling putt the length of the green lips out at the back edge after a lovely punched approach. Thomas shortsided himself off the tee - his chip was as good as was possible up the slope but his 20 footer stops short. McIlroy: -1 Thomas: E Fleetwood: +2 28 minutes ago Adam McKendry Three-way tie at the top Just as soon as Aaron Rai moved up to the top, he's back down into fourth once more as he bogeys the par-four ninth, so he drops back to -3 and Olesen, Li and Fitzpatrick are the leaders again. Harris English, meanwhile, birdies the first, second and fourth to get to -3 thru four. Great start for him, as it is for Maverick McNealy, who has birdied three of his last four holes to reach -3 thru seven. 30 minutes ago Gareth Hanna ROOOOAARRRYYYY 'It's an unexpected birdie, coming back from a mistake like that.' So says the fan behind me, who should be a commentator, as Rory rails it up the slope and in the middle door. No such luck for Tommy whose bunker trouble has yielded successive bogeys. After 5 it's: McIlroy: -1 Thomas: -1 Fleetwood: +2 34 minutes ago Gareth Hanna 'It's no good there - we've been standing three hours waiting' You've got to feel for the fans who think they're in perfect place only for a TV camera to get plonked in front of them. To be fair the fan and the camera man in this case have an amicable discussion and the cameraman pops off again before the group takes to the green. A win for humanity. 36 minutes ago Adam McKendry Scottie Scheffler following his 68: 'The margins are so small out here' His round: Felt like I hit the ball nice off the tee and really only had one swing I wasn't too happy with on maybe the 2nd hole but, outside of that, I felt like I hit a lot of good tee shots, hit the ball really solid, so definitely a good bit of confidence for the next couple rounds." Playing in the rain:"I felt like No.7 is a good example. Without the rain, where the wind direction was for us to start the day would have been a little down off the left and basically you can eliminate that one bunker, that big giant bunker on the right side of the fairway, and all of a sudden it starts raining sideways, the ball doesn't go as far, and now you can still run into that left bunker but you can't carry the right bunker, and instead of hitting driver and 4-iron, right now it's driver and 3-wood. Just little stuff like that makes it really challenging. Then we get to No.12 and I hit what was a really good tee shot there that just happened to kick a little bit right and go into the bunker. The margins out here are just really small. Sometimes the rain can make that pretty challenging." 40 minutes ago Gareth Hanna No risk/reward for Rory on 5 Takes the iron off the tee but absolutely minces it. It's nearly on the green. JT in fairway and Fleetwood in the right bunker, from where his attempted escape catches the lip and sticks. Gutting. It's a poor chip from Rory too - was always short and trickles back down the slope in front of the pin to 20 foot away. No such issue for Justin Thomas, who damn near holes it. Lip out and a tap-in birdie coming up for him to go under par. 46 minutes ago Adam McKendry We have a new co-leader Back-to-back birdies at the seventh and eighth and Aaron Rai - who, bizarrely, wears two gloves which I just find fascinating - is in a share for the lead before he's even played half of his first round. Could he be on for a low one? Sadom Kaewkanjana, still the only man to eagle the par-four fifth, is also back up into the mix as he birdies Calamity and is up to -3 with two holes of his round to play. Adam McKendry Jon Rahm on an eventful 70: 'I feel confident' His round:"Played good golf. If anything, I wish I could have played the easier holes, the first five, with the wind today and taken a little more advantage of that. I had a couple good looks. Pars out here are never going to hurt you, and those holes starting on eight thru 12 for the most part, all of them into the wind, are just difficult holes, a difficult stretch of the course where if you can somehow manage to make pars it's great. But overall, yeah, I'm very happy with the round. I'll take the score. I feel confident. Hopefully I can hit a few better shots off the tee. With the rain it's always tough to say, I feel like I was making good swings but water gets between the ball and the club and it can go anywhere. But I'd like those good swings to somehow produce the shot that I like to see. But besides that, a really good day." On the incident where a fan whistled during his tee shot on the 11th:"If I were to paint a picture, you have the hardest tee shot on the course, raining, into the wind off the left, it's enough. I know they're not doing it on purpose, it just seemed like somebody trying to get a hold of someone for whatever it is. It was bad timing. I think I just used the moment to let out any tension I had in me. To be honest, it probably didn't affect as much as I made it sound like. It was a bad swing as well. Just a difficult hole. I mean, it's frustrating, but it is what it is. It's an everyday thing in golf." 51 minutes ago No dramas after all Rory's two putt par is converted and JT gets up and down while Fleetwood finishes out what had seemed an inevitable bogey since his bunker situ. Today 11:15 AM Adam McKendry F***y-n**e watch? The more benign and dry conditions this afternoon have lent themselves to some better scoring, with Lucas Glover having the dream start by picking up a rare birdie at the par-five first and then backing it up with an eagle at the par-five second to move three-under for his first two holes! Is it too early to start a 59 watch?! England's Aaron Rai is also up to three-under he's birdied three of his first seven holes and he's bidding to hit the top, too. He'd be a popular winner in Northern Ireland after nearly winning the Irish Open at Galgorm. Today 11:12 AM Gareth Hanna 'How many shots penalty to drop it out?' Fleetwood's ball was in such a bad spot on the pot bunker, his caddie was considering dropping it. But on the confirmation of his suspicions that it was a two shot penalty, Tommy hit it and did well to get it out. Today 11:09 AM Adam McKendry Matthew Fitzpatrick, co-leader after a 67: 'Sometimes you need a bit of luck' His round: "I just felt like I did everything well. Just drove it well, approach play was good, and chipped and putted well. It was just an all around good day." His slam-dunk hole-out birdie on 16: "A bit of luck obviously. Sometimes you need that. I thought I could play a bit aggressive after watching Foxy and Hideki leave them a bit short. Obviously it just came out a little bit harder than I anticipated and on the perfect line." Royal Portrush:"This tournament always has the best fans obviously, even more so probably over here as well. They just understand golf so well, and good shots are rewarded with lots of claps. So that was a good thing. I think this place is fantastic. I've been lucky enough to play multiple Open venues now over the course of my career. There's a couple that haven't been played for a while that I absolutely love as well. So it would be nice to go back to those two. I definitely think this is up there." Today 11:05 AM Gareth Hanna Oh it's thrills you want? How about this tee shot at the fourth snapped straight left as well? That's both drivers from Rory significantly left of the mark so far. Not a good spot, over there. Today 11:04 AM Adam McKendry You Bez believe it Strong start to the round for South Africa's Christiaan Bezuidenhout as he rattles off three straight birdies at 5, 6 and 7 to move to three-under-par and one shot off the lead! Could he do something special? I was chatting to his father yesterday and he was bullish on his son's chances. I'm starting to believe him. Today 11:02 AM Gareth Hanna Boring pars at the third Pitch. Putt. Putt. Rory, JT, Tommy all stay level. A bit monotony never hurt anyone after those first two. Today 11:00 AM Adam McKendry Shane and Scottie The marquee morning group are finished and it's a good day for Scottie Scheffler, who almost ties the lead with a long-range putt on the 18th but sees it slide just right of the hole and instead has to settle for a par and a three-under 68, which leaves him one shot off the lead. And it is also a good day for Shane Lowry, a one-under 70 a solid day's work that has him still very much in contention after three birdies and two bogeys! The '2019 defence' off to a good start. Not so good for Collin Morikawa, though. Five bogeys, four of which came in his final 10 holes, and just one birdie means it's a +4 start for the 2021 champion. Today 10:55 AM Adam McKendry Holey moley As Rory McIlroy and co. head for the par-three third, let's check in on which holes are giving the players the most grief and which are providing birdie opportunities. The toughest holes 1. 11th (+0.47) 2. 4th (+0.36) 3. 9th (+0.35) 4. 18th (+0.30) 5. 1st (+0.28) The easiest holes 1. 5th (-0.26) 2. 12th (-0.25) 3. 7th (-0.18) 4. 2nd (-0.15) 5. 6th (+0.04)
Belfast Telegraph
6 days ago
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
The Open Guinness Tracker: Your guide to the cheapest and most expensive pints in Portrush
For context, the most expensive pint in Northern Ireland - according to the online Pint Tracker - is currently in the Culloden Hotel just outside Belfast. It will cost you £7.30. At The Open itself in Royal Portrush, a pint – in plastic – is £7.75. So with the tournament teeing off today, the Belfast Telegraph has compiled a price list of how much the black stuff will sting punters in some of the seaside town's main bars. The Harbour Bar and Harbour Bistro in Portrush (Pic: Martin McKeown) Many beer connoisseurs praise the famous Harbour Bar for its quality of Guinness, with the Discover Northern Ireland page even stating: 'This buzzing pub is a perfect pit stop to enjoy renowned pints of Guinness.' However, it has been found to be the most expensive stop for a pint this week, as bar staff tell us the cost of a Guinness has gone up to £8 for this week only. Usually, it's £6.50 per pint. Also, be prepared to have your drink served in a plastic container due to the busyness of the venue and the need for patrons to sit outside. Pints of Guinness at The Station The Open at Royal Portrush: What happened in 2019 Springhill Bar And Cheers Off-Sales Previously run by a local family until early this year, the Springhill Bar remains a spot that keeps things simple. Now under the ownership of Owey Enterprises Limited – the same group behind the Harbour Bar and the Ramore complex – it's no wonder the Guinness here carries a similar price tag to that of its sister venues. Situated on Causeway Street, it continues to be the go-to destination for anyone seeking that timeless, traditional Irish pub atmosphere. Kiwi's Brew Bar This popular eatery is more known for its vast selections of craft beers and ciders, but it still serves a great pint of G. For this week only, they've also raised their prices, so it will cost you £7. Lovers of chicken wings, burgers and pizza will also enjoy Kiwi's, which has been praised for its high-quality, massive portions. Read more The Marcus Hotel The new four-star Hilton-owned hotel - formerly known as the historic Londonderry Hotel - opened its doors just three weeks ago ahead of The Open, and its cocktail bar has been designed to evoke 'the charm of snug harbour bars, with low ceilings, rich textures, and a warm, intimate atmosphere'. As the only internationally branded hotel in Portrush, its pint prices are fairly modest compared to some other spots. The Port Hotel and Cellar Bar in Portrush The Port Hotel and its Cellar Bar are currently up for sale. A popular, well-established venue, pints of Guinness are £6 – and they are of high standards too, according to multiple TripAdvisor reviews. Safehouse Cafe Bar This pet-friendly cafe and bar is renowned for its artisan pizzas, freshly brewed coffee, and expertly crafted cocktails. A pint of Guinness will also cost you £6 here. The former bank building was brought back to life following a £2.5m restoration project in 2023. The listed building, originally built in 1898 for the Belfast Banking Company, was converted to serviced apartments and a cafe bar by hotel group Andras Hotels, and is very popular among pooch owners. The Quays Bar & Gastropub The barman in the Quays was keen to tell us that they 'don't and won't be putting prices up, no matter what'. That's why a Guinness here costs just £5.80. Known for their daily live entertainment, they also took to social media this week to state: 'At The Quays Bar & Gastropub, we believe in fair play – on the course and behind the bar. 'That means no price hikes, no tourist traps, and no nasty surprises at the till. 'Whether you're a local legend or just visiting Portrush for the first time, you'll pay the same fair prices for the same great food, drinks, and craic we're known for. 'See you soon – and bring your appetite, not your overdraft.' The Station Bar This was the cheapest pint of Guinness we found. Right beside Portrush Train Station and Curry's Fun Park, this pub has also been hailed for the quality of their Guinness, so it's the best for value and for taste. It's also just across the street from the second least expensive pints - The Quays - so a mini bar crawl could be arranged.
The 42
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The 42
McIlroy facing another major emotional challenge as Portrush's latest Open finally kicks off
WELCOME TO NORTHERN Ireland, where Open Week has been delivering all of that which you might expect, even before the golf has got underway. We have had an abrupt end to the summer by glowering and seditious skies. We have had a classic bit of opportunistic price-gouging, with the Harbour Bar's Open Added Tax such that the Belfast Telegraph believe their £8 pint of Guinness is currently the most expensive jar of stout in all of Northern Ireland. We have had the accommodation of a marching band, with Saturday's tee times to be brought forward for 15 minutes to ease the congestion exacerbated by the Sons of Ulster's 70-band parade. And we have had the greatest player in the world infected by a bad dose of existential despair. Scottie Scheffler's meditations in the press room on Tuesday have proved to be the most interesting part of the week's build-up, as he admitted that the joy in success on the golf course is fleeting and ultimately unfulfilling. 'What's the point?', asked Scottie aloud to rows of journalists briefly fascinated but ultimately chilled by the implications of his Beckettian angst. Beckett may have been primarily a cricket fan, but he would approve of the kind of strictly-controlled stage direction demanded of an Open venue by the Royal & Ancient. And, to be honest, everyone else should approve too. For ultimately we also have a stunning theatre for championship golf, one kept looking lush by the spillings of rain and marries take-a-breath views with a hold-your-breath challenge. The Open is back in Portrush after only six years primarily because of the number of eager punters they can layer along the fairways – more than 250,000 people will click between the gates this week – but this promises to be another week to make yourself giddy about the elemental genius of golf on this island and then make you lament the extent to which the professional game has been captured by obscenely wealthy parklands in America. But that's only if you can take your eyes away from Rory McIlroy, as to suggest Rory has been the centre of attention this week is to assume there's attention being shared anywhere else, which is not a safe bet. Dealing with that adulation's attendant pressure is what McIlroy failed to do in missing the cut in 2019, infamously hooking his tee shot left and out of bounds; his radar left askew by the emotional punch of the ovation that met him on the first tee. He said this week he hadn't expected to be met with anything like this noise, and that he had not mentally prepared for its impact. The good news is he can't be surprised twice. In 2019 he said he 'isolated' himself away from the clamouring crowds, to the point he stayed well away from the course. This time, however, he is staying nearby, and has decided he is better to embrace the attention and its expectation. It's a tentative kind of embrace, however: McIlroy snuck onto the property shortly after sunrise on Monday and Tuesday to steal a march on the madding crowds. And as to whether this refreshed approach will yield different results? Well, he sent his tee shot on the first hole out of bounds during practice on Monday and Tuesday. Er, maybe best to get those swings out of the way. Advertisement If McIlroy can deal with the emotional pressure – singular to him among the whole field – then he should contend, because his game looks to be in rude health. If his surly non-performance at the PGA Championship was the sit-down-in-the-shower-to-cry phase of his post-Masters hangover, then last Sunday's second-placed finish at the Scottish Open was the moment at which he finally kept his dinner down. This was the first tournament at which he contended since the Masters, and McIlroy said afterwards that he felt his game is back to the level at which it was during the first fortnight of April. If he can tidy up his driving accuracy – he ranked 60th among the Scottish Open field for fairways found – and maintain his putting consistency on the slower greens of a links course, then he will contend to become the first man to win the Masters and the Open in the same year since Tiger Woods did so in 2005. Shane Lowry. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO Meanwhile, Shane Lowry had to clarify at one point during his Monday press conference that he's not actually the defending champion. But such is the lingering impact of his 2019 victory and the haste with which the R&A have returned to Portrush, it feels like he has only this week handed back the Claret Jug. Lowry said this week he is a better golfer than he was six years ago – stats and rankings make this an indisputable claim – but he has too often struggled to show the kind of finishing prowess he showcased so gloriously in 2019. His consistency has also recently deserted him at the majors, missing the cut at the PGA Championship and the US Open. Even if he can flip that form line, he has the issue of an in-form field. Jon Rahm appears to the be the consensus favourite in the media centre at least: he has won two Irish Opens – one of which was at the nearby Portstewart – and has been a consistent threat at all the majors this year. Scottie Scheffler is a relative novice at links golf but he nonetheless has the artistry to excel by the sea, while the actual defending champ – Xander Schauffele – has eased himself back into form just in time for his tilt to be the first back-to-back winner of the Claret Jug since Pádraig Harrington. Harrington has been given the honour of hitting the first tee shot, a ceremonial role for a not-yet-ceremonial golfer. 'I don't want to be known as a ceremonial golfer', he says. 'I don't feel like I am at the moment, and I'm prepared to put that aside to have that honour.' Harrington will play alongside Tom McKibbin, who is seeking to burnish his talent with a reputation to match. A member of Royal Portrush, the big-hitting McKibbin is one of the best drivers on LIV and if he can play it from the fairway, he can easily fulfil his target of a best major finish yet, which was a T41 at last year's US Open. McKibbin has the benefit of familiarity with a course that will allow for compulsive viewing throughout the week, unlike the painfully one-note hosts of the two previous men's majors. Links golf is escape room golf: there's generally a route to safety, but you have to get creative in finding it. All of McIlroy, Lowry, and McKibbin independently pointed to how well bunkered the course is, meaning players will have to carefully choose their club on every tee box. While finding the fairway is vital, this is not the bomb-and-gouge festival thrown every week by the PGA Tour. Asked as to what makes this his favourite golf course, Harrington instantly pointed to its risk-reward element, saying no course on the Open rota throws up such variations in scoring on certain holes. The par-five seventh hole, for instance, yielded more eagles than any other in 2019, but it was on this very same hole that David Duval made a 14 during his opening round. Shane Lowry provided an electric, irresistible finish here six years ago, and there's only one man who can possibly deliver anything greater on this Sunday. But even if Rory McIlroy cannot quite rise to meet the soaring moment, then we'll be satisfied with the rugged, sober star power of Royal Portrush itself. Tips Jon Rahm to win – 11/1 Russell Henley e/w – 60/1 Tom Kim e/w – 100/1 Selected tee times – Round 1 6:35 am | Padraig Harrington, Nicolai Hojgaard, Tom McKibbin Related Reads Scheffler's press conference answer goes viral and leaves rivals facing deep and difficult questions Shane Lowry learning to embrace the struggle that paved the way to his first Open triumph To understand Rory McIlroy, you have to understand his relationship with Royal Portrush 7:52 am | Darren Clarke, Davis Riley, Lucas Herbert 9:58 am | Xander Schauffele, JJ Spaun, Jon Rahm 10:09 am | Shane Lowry, Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler 2:48 pm | Robert MacIntyre, Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Rose 2:59 pm | Jordan Spieth, Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland 3:10 pm | Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Tommy Fleetwood Selected tee times – Round 2 9:47 am | Robert MacIntyre, Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Rose 9:58 am | Jordan Spieth, Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland 10:09 am | Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Tommy Fleetwood 11:26 am | Padraig Harrington, Nicolai Hojgaard, Tom McKibbin 12:53 pm | Darren Clarke, Davis Riley, Lucas Herbert 2:59 pm | Xander Schauffele, JJ Spaun, Jon Rahm 3:10 pm | Shane Lowry, Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler
