Rory McIlroy practices on eve of Open Championship at Royal Portrush
(Brian Lawless/PA Wire)
(AFP via Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
Jack Rathborn17 July 2025 05:45
Justin Rose re-energised following ‘comedown’ in wake of Masters near miss
Justin Rose accepts losing out to Rory McIlroy in a play-off at the Masters may have impacted subsequent performances but believes he is now over his “comedown”.
“Obviously I’ve had a bit of a comedown off the back of the Masters. I feel like I’m coming back around to having more energy and focus again,” said the 44-year-old, who is bidding to become the first Englishman to win the Open since Nick Faldo in 1992.
“It’s been a weird one because I don’t really feel like I had to get over it because I didn’t necessarily feel completely devastated by it either.
“I felt like I could walk away with my head held high, so from that point of view I didn’t really feel like there was much baggage or much to get over.
“I think what was difficult is having just the micro-moments, with everybody you meet for the next couple of months wanting to talk to you about it.
“In that way it’s hard to get past it. It’s a subconscious, it’s not even a conscious thing. I think I’m over it. I don’t know. Who knows?”
Jack Rathborn17 July 2025 05:30
This is not a fulfilling life – Scottie Scheffler questions why he chases majors
“This is not a fulfilling life. It’s fulfilling from the sense of accomplishment but it’s not fulfilling from a sense of the deepest places of your heart,” the 29-year-old American said.
“There’s a lot of people that make it to what they thought was going to fulfil them in life, and you get there, you get to number one in the world, and they’re like, ‘What’s the point?’
“I really do believe that because, what is the point? Why do I want to win this tournament so bad? That’s something that I wrestle with on a daily basis.
“Showing up at the Masters every year it’s like, ‘Why do I want to win this golf tournament so badly? Why do I want to win The Open Championship so badly?’
“I don’t know because if I win it’s going to be awesome for two minutes, then we’re going to get to the next week and it’s, ‘Hey, you won two majors this year; how important is it for you to win the FedEx Cup play-offs?’
“It feels like you work your whole life to celebrate winning a tournament for like a few minutes. It only lasts a few minutes, that kind of euphoric feeling.”
(AFP via Getty Images)
Jack Rathborn17 July 2025 05:15
Xander Schauffele trying to ‘piece way back’ ahead of Open defence
Defending Open champion Xander Schauffele admits it was humbling to see the “perfect storm” which brought him two majors in three months last summer disappear.
“Going from on top of the moon to, you know, knocked off completely, it’s a humbling thing for sure,” Schauffele told the PA news agency at an event for sponsors Callaway in Portrush’s famous Harbour Bar.
“Winning my first major, getting the monkey off my back, came at a perfect time – if you want to, call it a perfect storm.
“Feeling completely free and playing unbelievable golf, it’s a pretty dangerous thing so I felt like I was riding that wave.
“So I’m just trying to piece my way back, gain a little bit of confidence each and every week with each and every shot to be honest.”
Xander Schauffele will attempt to defend his Open title at Royal Portrush (Jane Barlow/PA) (PA Wire)
Jack Rathborn17 July 2025 05:00
Rory McIlroy determined to embrace adulation on Royal Portrush return
Rory McIlroy wants to embrace the expectations which come with The Open in his native Northern Ireland after admitting he was ill-prepared for the outpouring of emotion which accompanied his appearance at Royal Portrush in 2019, where he missed the cut by one stroke after shooting an eight-over 79 on the first day.
“I think I remember the ovation I got on the first tee on Thursday and not being prepared for it or not being ready for how I was going to feel or what I was going to feel. That walk to the first tee and that ovation – I was a little surprised and a little taken aback. I was like, ‘These people really want me to win’.
“I think that brought its own sort of pressure and more internally from myself and not really wanting to let people down. I guess it’s just something I didn’t mentally prepare for that day or that week.
“But I learned pretty quickly that one of my challenges, especially in a week like this, is controlling myself and controlling that battle.
“I think in ’19 I probably tried to isolate and I think it’s better for everyone if I embrace it. I think it’s better for me because it’s nice to be able to accept adulation, even though I struggle with it at times.
“It just makes for a better interaction and not trying to hide away from it. I think it’s more embracing everything that’s going to come my way this week and not try to shy away from it or hide away from it and I think that’ll make for a better experience for everyone involved.”
Jack Rathborn16 July 2025 18:36
The Open 2025 tee times: First and second rounds
Rory McIlroy returns to Royal Portrush hoping to add a Claret Jug to his Green Jacket at The Open this week.
The Northern Irishman, who grew up nearby in Hollywood, is a strong contender this week on the links, behind only Scottie Scheffler in the betting markets.
Shane Lowry has fond memories of Portrush, having triumphed six years ago, prevailing by six shots over Ryder Cup teammate Tommy Fleetwood.
And the groupings and tee times for the first two rounds of The 153rd Open have been announced, with McIlroy playing alongside Fleetwood and two-time major winner Justin Thomas.
While Scottie Scheffler is on the opposite side of the draw with the American joining home favourite Lowry and his Team USA colleague Collin Morikawa.
Jack Rathborn16 July 2025 18:35
Comment: ‘What’s the point?’ Here’s what Scottie Scheffler really told us in his ‘crisis’ speech
“It feels like you work your whole life to celebrate winning a tournament for a few minutes – it only lasts a few minutes, that euphoric feeling,” said the 29-year-old. “To win the Byron Nelson Championship at home [in Texas], I literally worked my entire life to become good at golf, to have an opportunity to win that tournament. And you win it, get to celebrate, hug my family, my sisters are there, it’s such an amazing moment. And it’s like: ‘OK, now, what are we going to eat for dinner?’ Life goes on.
“What’s the point? Why do I want to win this tournament so bad? That’s something that I wrestle with on a daily basis. Showing up at the Masters every year, it’s like: why do I want to win this golf tournament so badly? Why do I want to win the Open Championship so badly? I don’t know. Because if I win, it’s going to be awesome for two minutes. Then we’re going to get to the next week and it’s: ‘Hey, you won two majors this year, how important is it for you to win the FedExCup play-offs?’ And we’re back here again.”
Jack Rathborn16 July 2025 18:34