It was a return six years in the making, and it was a return that perfectly encapsulated Rory McIlroy. Making the trek back to Royal Portrush for The Open Championship -- now as a career grand slam winner -- the Northern Irishman experienced a topsy-turvy day as the hard stuff came easy and the easy stuff came hard.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (+500) continues his streak of opening as the favorite in every golf major in 2025, this time for The Open Championship being held at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.

Rory McIlroy is returning to the iconic course 60 miles from his home, this time with a Masters green jacket. Lowry is in good form. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler seems as powerful as ever. And now Jon Rahm is playing at an elite level again in time for a tough links test.

Just as a certain Northern Irishman’s golf ball flew left, but not too far left, and safely settled in the rough, the sun peeked ou

The Open at Portrush was a lot for Rory McIlroy to handle in 2019. After the first round in 2025, in which he went 1 under, he tells Cara Banks he's handling it much better this time and looks forward to Friday.