Rory McIlroy shot 1 under Thursday at Royal Portrush, a better start than the first time he played the British Open at the Northern Ireland course near home.

Rory McIlroy had a singular pursuit. Visit his hometown of Holywood, in Northern Ireland, and you leave knowing the truth of that. The post In Rory McIlroy's humble hometown, they always saw him coming appeared first on Golf.

McIlroy starts British Open bid with rollercoaster 70 * Bogeys first hole before fighting back * Northern Irishman bidding for second British Open title (Adds more quotes) By Martyn Herman PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland,

Home favourite Rory McIlroy falls short in bid for first-round Open lead - McIlroy had to settle for a one-over-par round of 70.

Rory McIlroy admitted he couldn’t handle the emotion or the setting that unfolded six years ago when the Open Championship returned to Royal Portrush after a half-century absence.  This time around McIlroy said he would embrace it all.

R OYAL PORTRUSH — The Masters took four days to drain the Rory McIlroy fan base of emotional resource. Northern Ireland might well run out of tranquilisers come Sunday should McIlroy get that far. No eight on the card, yet, but tumult aplenty on the opening day in Portrush.

Rain lashed from above, North Atlantic winds pummeled from the side, and thousands of excited, umbrella-wielding shapes swirled amongst it all, yet the man at the eye of the storm remained entirely unflustered.

Rory McIlroy generously gave up his time to sign flags for children watching Tuesday's practice rounds at The Open Championship, but he had some firm words for some autographs hunters