Home favourite Rory McIlroy falls short in bid for first-round Open lead - McIlroy had to settle for a one-over-par round of 70.

ROYAL PORTRUSH — The Masters took four days to drain the Rory McIlroy fan base of emotional resource. Northern Ireland might well run out of tranquilisers come Sunday should McIlroy get that far. No eight on the card, yet, but tumult aplenty on the opening day in Portrush.

McIlroy ejected on the first hole and ultimately missed the cut when The Open was last played in his home country of Northern Ireland

Rory McIlroy attended the Association of Golf Writers dinner on Tuesday evening and was decked out in green — Masters green.

The 15-year-old from Magherafelt won Tourism Northern Ireland's art competition with her portrait of the Grand Slam winner with Lucia's winning design featuring the Harland and Wolff Cranes and the Giant's Causeway.

The last time the British Open came to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, Rory McIlroy missed the cut. Will he claim his second major of the year this time around?

Rory McIlroy is among the favorites to lift the Claret Jug at Royal Portrush this week, and the Northern Irishman has given a glimpse into the winning formula he will look to follow