Rory McIlroy remains in contention at The Open 2025 with the Masters champion ending Friday’s second round at three under after a steady performance at Royal Portrush. The Northern Irishman remains a distance behind early clubhouse leader Brian Harman,

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.

If we were feeling especially dramatic, that might be the way we'd describe the scene on the first tee Thursday afternoon at around 3:10 p.m. British Standard Time, when Rory McIlroy hit what can be reasonably described as the most anticipated first tee shot of 2025.

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

Rory McIlroy delights and frustrates in equal measure as Matt Fitzpatrick ends day one of the 153rd Open Championship in a five-way tie for the lead.

I t was a return six years in the making, and it was a return that perfectly encapsulated Rory McIlroy. Making the trek back to Royal Portrush for The Open Championship -- now as a career grand slam winner -- the Northern Irishman experienced a topsy-turvy day as the hard stuff came easy and the easy stuff came hard.

Rory McIlroy puts Portrush demons to bed as push for sixth major title begins - The struggles of 2019 are but a distant memory