Walking around in the company of putting coach Brad Faxon and his long-time coach Michael Bannon, McIlroy looked as content as he has at any point in his career. Playing partners in the Ulster three-ball, Tom McKibbin and Darren Clarke, marvelled at the ease with which he navigated the hillocks and burrows of the Dunluce links, where, aged 16, he set the course record of 61.
Should he replicate with any regularity across the weekend his ridiculous approach to two feet at the 9th, Scottie Scheffler and Co can go home now. His effortless short-iron drew the standard awed appreciation from a gallery that had set the alarm for just this exposure to their hero.
Green Jacket Royal PortrushRory McIlroy is wearing Green on the north coast #golf #bbcgolf #theopen #rorymcilroy pic.twitter.com/w0zyJNeD4o
— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) July 15, 2025The unfurling of flags and restating of allegiances links back to ancient conflicts that were set in train by the failure of Henry VIII to father a viable son with his first wife Catherine of Aragon, which forced upon the realm a religious schism that ultimately legitimised Protestantism at the expense of Catholicism, the consequences of which reverberate in the post-Troubles epoch, if with less force.
After watching McIlroy build a handsome lead to take into the final day, the sincere wish of most here, Saturday’s full-house will disgorge on to the streets of Portrush just at the point the drums of 60 bands start up to lead 2,000 people in celebration of the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, where, in 1690, William of Orange ended attempts by the deposed Catholic King James II to reclaim the English monarchy.
The R&A first met with the Portrush Sons Of Ulster six months ago to find a solution. The organisers argue there was insufficient time to change the date, adding that negotiations should have begun sooner.
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Mark MacGregor, from nearby Ballymoney and a convert to golf, was making his first visit to a tournament. He remarked how, on the occasion of McIlroy’s victory at The Players Championship in Sawgrass this year, the flag of the Red Hand of Ulster was hoisted in these parts in commemoration.
“There has been so much bad that has come from this country,” MacGregor said, “it was nice to see something good being promoted for once.
“They should make it a festival for everybody to enjoy.”
“Everybody loves Rory, of course. Shane [Lowry], too. I would just like a local lad to win. That’s just me being biased.”
“Let us concentrate on building and promoting this union which a generation defended during the Troubles against the murderous, cowardly terrorist campaign of republicans.”
That old, divisive rhetoric seems to resonate less with younger parishioners, especially those on this stretch of greensward, who seem only to want to get on with their lives and cheer for golfers from the whole island of Ireland, no matter their faith or passport.
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