English duo Tyrrell Hatton and Matthew Jordan, one of only two players in the field with top-10 Open finishes in the previous two years, were also three under, with 52-year-old compatriot Lee Westwood marking his 30th anniversary at the tournament with a two-under 69.

Former US Open champion Wyndham Clark has been indefinitely banned from Oakmont Country Club after he caused extensive damage to lockers in the clubhouse during this year's Championship

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

The first handful of groups are off in Country Antrim and it is two Danes that are leading the way: Nicolai Hojgaard and Jacob Skov Olesen who are both one under. Padraig Harrington, a two-time winner of the Open, was at one under very briefly but has dropped back to level par.

The home favourite endured a rollercoaster day as The Open returned to Portrush for the first time since he missed the cut in 2019, but despite only hitting two fairways he managed to finish under par

The year was 2019. After a 68-year gap, the R&A took the Open back to Royal Portrush. The influence of major winners from Northern Ireland such as Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell was viewed as crucial in the decision.

Wyndham Clark has been banned from Oakmont Country Club after he caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to the clubhouse in a fit of rage in June

With memories of his Royal Portrush meltdown six years ago still vivid, Rory McIlroy has a score to settle at the only venue in his home country to host a major title.

Defending champion Xander Schauffele said his level-par 71 "wasn't a very exciting round", while 55-year-old Phil Mickelson carded his best Open round since 2018 to sit one under, holing a bunker shot for par at the third, having left his first attempt in the sand.

OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — Rory McIlroy could leave Oakmont feeling like he accomplished something, even if it took the full four days for him to produce a truly impressive round. McIlroy shot a 3 ...

ROYAL 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.