The first round of the 2025 Open Championship gave the 156-player field all they could handle, as ever-changing weather conditions allowed Royal Portrush to show off its strength against the best players in the world.

Rory McIlroy puts Portrush demons to bed as push for sixth major title begins - The struggles of 2019 are but a distant memory

That feat was last achieved by Tiger Woods in 2005, when Woods won his fourth Green Jacket in a sudden‑death playoff at Augusta and then went on to dominate The Open at St Andrews, firing rounds of 66‑67‑71‑70 for a 274 (−14) total to win by five strokes.

Rory McIlroy three strokes off the early lead at The Open after an opening-round 70 at Royal Portrush; McIlroy chasing second major win of the season after his Grand Slam success at The Masters in April;

Rory McIlroy felt the support of “an entire country” kept him going as he overcame a mid-round wobble and finished strongly to keep his Open hopes alive at Royal Portrush.

McIlroy ejected on the first hole and ultimately missed the cut when The Open was last played in his home country of Northern Ireland

PGA Tour star Rory McIlroy turns heads with bold outfit in return to Royal Portrush ahead of The Open Championship.

Six years ago at Royal Portrush, McIlroy, who grew up less than an hour away, hit his opening shot out of bounds on the par-4 first on his way to a quadruple-bogey 8 and a 79. He pulled his tee shot again, this time around, but it settled safely in the left rough.