Open favourite Rory McIlroy suffered a nightmare start and a finish that was almost as bad to effectively end his hopes of lifting the Claret Jug on home soil at Royal Portrush. Open favourite Rory McIlroy suffered a nightmare start and a finish that was almost as bad to effectively end his hopes of lifting the Claret Jug on home soil at Royal Portrush. "On the tee from Northern Ireland, Rory McIlroy!" Lowry's 67 was his best opening round in any major and he said: "It's my best by about eight shots. "It could not have been better, hitting the first tee shot and making birdie.

Source: Irish Independent July 18, 2019 10:46 UTC