The rain hammered down and the home hero’s victory chances were washed away but nothing was about to spoil the Portrush party on the Open’s historic return. Hometown favourite Darren Clarke teed it all off, hitting the first Major championship golf shot in Northern Ireland for 68 years. One tournament official suggested there had never been a bigger crowd for the first shot of an Open. Among the crowds at Royal Portrush were a number of stars from other sporting codes. “This is my first Open and I came because it was at Portrush.

Source: Irish Examiner July 18, 2019 18:00 UTC