Royal Portrush hosts the 153rd Open

The excitement of the 153rd Open Championship gets under way today at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland (17-20 July) and what a terrific tournament it will be.  World-class players from around the globe have gathered at the course in County Antrim among them last year’s winner of the final Major of the season, Xander Schauffele from America.

 

The 31-year old from California shot a truly impressive round of 6-under par 65 on the final day in 2024 to snatch the Claret Jug by two clear strokes from England’s Justin Rose and Billy Horschel (USA) with a score of 9-under par 275.  The victory for Schauffele was also tremendous because he became the most recent player to win both the PGA Championship and the Open in the same year just as Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy did back in 2014.

 

Thinking of Rory McIlroy, the 36-year old had a tremendous start to this season when he fought-off England’s Justin Rose in a play-off in the Masters at Augusta National, Atlanta, USA to seize the first Major of the season.  It was McIlroy’s first victory in the Masters and earned him a well-deserved fifth Major title.  Indeed, he is the first European golfer to win all the Majors.  And, not surprisingly, Rory McIlroy stands at number two in the World Golf Ranking.

 

Xander Schauffele is the number three in the World Golf Ranking.  He tees-off at Royal Portrush with Spain’s two times Major winner Jon Rahm and the surprise victor of the US Open last month, J.J. Spaun.

 

World Number One at Royal Portrush

 

Behind them is Scottie Scheffler, the World’s Number One golfer.  Scheffler is playing with Ireland’s Shane Lowry, who won the Open Championship when it was last played at Royal Portrush in 2019 with a tremendous six-shot victory.  Completing this line-up is the talented American Collin Morikawa who has already won two Majors including the Open of 2021.

 

Padraig Harrington from Ireland had the honour of teeing-off first this year with Nicolai Hojgaard (Denmark) and a local player from Northern Ireland Tom McKibbin.  Interestingly, there are also nine amateurs in the field of 156 at Royal Portrush looking to take home the illustrious Silver Medal at the Open.

 

This is the third Open Championship to be held at Royal Portrush.  The first was in 1951 and then again in 2019.  The next four days will be pretty breathtaking with the best players in the world going head-to-head for the honour of becoming the Champion Golfer of the Year as well as the proud winner of the famous Claret Jug.

 

So please sit back and let the 153rd Open Championship entertain you and perhaps even inspire your own golf!

 

Wendy Hoad

Editor

 

MAIN PHOTOGRAPH:  Defending Open Champion from America, Xander Schauffele.