The hometown hero is back at Royal Portrush, but Rory McIlroy was poor off the tee again as the Open Championship rolls on.

Scottie Scheffler concluded the first day of the 2025 British Open at Royal Portrush just one stroke behind the leaders after a 3-under 68. Rory McIlroy showed composure with a 1-under round, a stark contrast to his previous outing at the same course.

So here is our final major big board of the year, ranking the top 30 golfers in the field. This is not simply the 30 best golfers in a vacuum. These are the 30 golfers that our crack team of Gabby Herzig, Hugh Kellenberger and Brody Miller believe are best suited to win this week at Royal Portrush.

Rory McIlroy grew up in Holywood, Northern Ireland, and learned to play golf at Holywood Golf Club. I visited and took the "McIlroy Tour."

What time does Rory McIlroy tee off at The Open? Start times, how to watch, prize money and latest odds - Masters champion targeting second career Claret Jug on home turf in Northern Ireland

A two-story mural depicting a precocious Rory McIlroy in 2012 has seen such better days that you can barely tell it is the Grand Slam golfer anymore

After finally climbing his mountain and ending his long and agonising wait to win the career Grand Slam, Rory McIlroy returns to Northern Ireland this week to play in front of his home fans.