The child stood transfixed, overwhelmed by the moment, until reality crashed back when McIlroy had already moved 50 yards past. Panic flashed across the boy's face—had he missed his chance? He found his voice.

McIlroy capped the Grand Slam in April, and called this “an awesome week' after tying for seventh place at Portrush.

Reality says Rory McIlroy isn’t going to hoist the Claret Jug on the 18th hole on Sunday evening here to deafening roars from the home fans.

Six years after his emotional missed cut at Royal Portrush, McIlroy stuck around for four days of heavy praise from the hometown crowd, which showered McIlroy all the way through his 10-under performance and T-7 finish.

Only one thing was on Rory McIlroy’s mind as he prepared for the final round of The 153rd Open – and it certainly wasn’t golf. McIlroy will be looking to go low on Sunday at Royal Portrush

Scottie Scheffler was a genius for nearly all of the week at Royal Portrush, and the result was a masterclass major performance in which the Texan essentially toyed with the field, ultimately winning by four shots while beating the next two best players in the world, No. 2 Rory McIlroy and No. 3 Xander Schauffele each by five shots.

Rory McIlroy climbed the leaderboard Saturday at the 2025 Open Championship thanks in large part to an electric eagle putt on the par-five 12th.

McIlroy has played solid enough through 36 holes at The Open Championship but will need to actually move on Moving Day

Scottie Scheffler has a one-shot lead over Matt Fitzpatrick going into the third round of the British Open. Saturday is known as moving day in golf.

Rory McIlroy was audibly frustrated by a wayward effort that all-but ended his hopes of winning The Open. McIlroy returned to the Royal Portrush Golf Club for Sunday’s final round eight