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.

Rory McIlroy fought hard against errors in his game to card a one-under-par opening round at Royal Portrush, sitting just three shots back of the lead in The Open Championship

The hometown hero is back at Royal Portrush, but Rory McIlroy was poor off the tee again as the Open Championship rolls on.

Rory McIlroy has been warned that he may struggle to handle the "weight of a country on his back" as he bids to win The Open Championship on home soil at Royal Portrush

Current Masters champion Rory McIlroy was left to rue the controversial rule at Royal Portrush's first hole that also caught out the Northern Irishman six years ago at The Open

Wyndham Clark has received a ban that could see him miss out on competing at the U.S. Open after damaging several lockers at Oakmont Country Club last month