Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry both let emotions get the better of them at Royal Portrush during the second round of The Open Championship, with microphones picking up their swearing

The Open 2025 hots up entering the weekend with Rory McIlroy hoping to use a feverish home crowd to contend for the Claret Jug at Royal Portrush. The Masters champion is in contention this time after missing the cut at the same Northern Irish venue six years ago,

It was a return six years in the making, and it was a return that perfectly encapsulated Rory McIlroy. Making the trek back to Royal Portrush for The Open Championship -- now as a career grand slam winner -- the Northern Irishman experienced a topsy-turvy day as the hard stuff came easy and the easy stuff came hard.

Rory McIlroy's genius on the golf course was summed up by how frustrated he previously left rival Jason Day as they both vie for victory at The Open Championship this week

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.

McIlroy cards opening 70 to trail leaders by three shots as Portrush go-slow sees rounds taking close to six hours

Bryson DeChambeau will have had high hopes heading into this week's Open Championship, but it proved to be an opening round to forget for the LIV golfer at Royal Portrush

The final major of the golfing year takes place this week as the Open Championship takes place at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland – with Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood both teeing off