Rory McIlroy will be roared on in his homeland as the 153rd British Open gets underway at Royal Portrush on Thursday (Friday in Manila) as world number one Scottie Scheffler seeks his first Claret Jug.

While Rory McIlroy’s Masters triumph earned him a long-awaited career grand slam, a home Open Championship win at Royal Portrush could be even more emotion for the North Irishman.

Rory McIlroy was in a relaxed mood during final practice on Wednesday at the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush, as the Masters champion looks to win his home major

Rory McIlroy attended the Association of Golf Writers dinner on Tuesday evening and was decked out in green — Masters green.

The first time that Royal Portrush hosted the Open Championship since 1951, there was heaps of pressure on McIlroy, the biggest sporting star from Northern Ireland since George Best played for Manchester United in the 1960s and 70s, to win. He shot a 79 on Thursday.

Rory McIlroy entered the 2025 Scottish Open needing to regain the top-tier form he flashed earlier in the year when he won three tournaments, including the Masters, which secured his career grand slam.

Rory McIlroy is setting his sights on redemption at this week's Open Championship, aiming to erase the memories of his harrowing 2019 experience at Royal Portrush. Since his disastrous collapse under intense local expectation — which saw him miss the cut after kicking off with a quadruple-bogey on the initial hole — it's his first time back at the famed Northern Ireland course.

Rory McIlroy celebrated his sixth AGW Golfer of the Year award in his iconic green jacket ahead of his Open Championship fight.