British Open at Portrush starts with an Irish cheer. That's how the last
one ended
[July 17, 2025] By
DOUG FERGUSON
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (AP) — The British Open at
Royal Portrush started Thursday the way the last one ended: A packed
grandstand and throaty cheers for an Irish golfer.
Padraig Harrington, a two-time Open champion, hit the opening shot of
the 153rd edition of golf's oldest championship with a piercing iron
into the wind off the North Atlantic, between pot bunkers on both sides
and into the fairway. |
Pidgin Harrington of Ireland looks to play out of a bunker on the 13th
green during a practice round for the British Open golf championship at
the Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland, Tuesday, July 15, 2025.
(AP Photo/Jon Super) |
|
The Open returns to Royal Portrush after only
six years. The final stroke in 2019 was a tap-in par for Shane
Lowry of Ireland for his first major title.
Harrington was the last to arrive on the first tee, the silver
claret jug positioned to the left to remind players what's at
stake this year. He raised his cap, appreciating the gesture of
the R&A to offer him the opening shot.
And then he produced an even louder cheer when he holed a
15-foot birdie putt.
It's only a start to the longest day in golf — the first shot
was 6:35 a.m. local time. The final group won't finished until
around 9:30 p.m.
Rory McIlroy is the star attraction in his native Northern
Ireland. His major championship season began with him wearing
the Masters green jacket with hopes of ending it cradling the
claret jug. He was among the late starters on Thursday.
The morning wave featured Scottie Scheffler, the PGA champion
and world's No. 1 player for the last two years, and defending
Open champion Xander Schauffele, who is trying to become the
first player since Harrington (2007-08) to win the Open in
consecutive years.
This is only the third time Royal Portrush has hosted the Open,
the first one coming in 1951 for a club that dates to 1888.
The forecast for the week is mixed, a term in these parts that
roughly translates to expect just about everything. Harrington
led off under streaks of sunshine before the wind ushered in
clouds.
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