Padraig Harrington, Tom McKibbin Open Royal Portrush British Open

The 153rd Open Championship commenced at Royal Portrush with Padraig Harrington, a two-time Open champion, hitting the ceremonial first tee shot, followed by Holywood’s Tom McKibbin and Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard in the opening group. Harrington, determined to compete for the title again, faced challenging weather conditions including a stiff breeze and cloudy skies, which favored the morning starters such as world number one Scottie Scheffler and 2019 champion Shane Lowry. Rory McIlroy, the last of the Irish contenders to start, teed off in the afternoon amid heavier rain and strong winds, a situation that frustrated other afternoon players like Justin Thomas. McIlroy's putting coach, Brad Faxon, controversially reported that McIlroy hit out-of-bounds tee shots in practice rounds earlier in the week, echoing McIlroy’s similar struggles at the 2019 Open at Portrush. Organizers also announced adjustments to Saturday’s schedule to accommodate a local loyalist parade, aiming to minimize disruption during the tournament. The event features strong Irish representation, with Harrington, McKibbin, Lowry, and McIlroy among the key players, alongside top international competitors like defending champion Xander Schauffele, Jon Rahm, and Collin Morikawa.