Rory McIlroy experienced that sinking feeling again on the first hole at Royal Portrush. OK, the returning hometown hero hadn’t hit his drive out-of-bounds this time. No spectator's phone had been smashed.

The "Golden Bear" and 18-time major winner won the first of his three Opens and completed the first of his three career grand slams along the southeastern Scottish coast in 1966, then called the par-71 layout "the best golf course in Britain."

The last time the British Open came to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, Rory McIlroy missed the cut. Will he claim his second major of the year this time around?