Open favourite Rory McIlroy was battling to recover from a nightmare start to his bid to lift the Claret Jug on home soil after recording a quadruple bogey on the first hole at Royal Portrush. Open favourite Rory McIlroy was battling to recover from a nightmare start to his bid to lift the Claret Jug on home soil after recording a quadruple bogey on the first hole at Royal Portrush. WATCH: Rory McIlroy hits an EIGHT on first hole at Royal Portrush as Open title hopes suffer a huge blowNorthern Ireland's best hope for a home winner could hardly have begun in worse fashion after pulling his opening tee shot out of bounds on the 424-yard par four. "On the tee from Northern Ireland, Rory McIlroy!" 🇬🇧Huge roars on the first tee from the home fans, but it's a nervy start from the favourite!

Source: Irish Independent July 18, 2019 10:11 UTC