The Open

  1. Li Haotong

  2. Golf's big names enjoy 'sport's most famous bench'

    For almost 15 years it has been dubbed the most famous bench in golf.

    Sitting proudly on the sixth tee at Royal Portrush, with views of the beach below and coast for miles either side, it has gone viral at this year's Open.

    Some of the sport's biggest names - including Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm - have all been pictured resting up at the back end of the course.

    The inscription reads: "Jim McDowell - from just a few of his many golfing friends to mark the occasion of his 70th birthday".

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    Rory McIlroy smiles with a club sat on a bench at Portrush for The Open.Getty Images

    Masters champion and Northern Ireland native Rory McIlroy set the course record at Royal Portrush as a 16-year-old

    Scottie Scheffler sits with a putter and crossed legs with his caddie on a bench at Portrush at the 16th hole.Getty Images

    World number one Scottie Scheffler is yet to win the Claret Jug

    Shane Lowry smiling while sat on the bench at the 16th hole at Royal Portrush.Getty Images

    The 2019 champion at Royal Portrush Shane Lowry

    Scottish golfer Robert MacIntyre sits on the famous bench at Portrush. He is wearing a white cap and wearing a yellow t-shirt. He's sat on the right hand side of the screen and the left hand side shows the bench with the inscription 'ROYAL PORTRUSH GOLF CLUB'.Getty Images

    Scotland's Bob MacIntyre finished in the top 10 last time The Open came to Royal Portrush

    From left to right - Jon Rahm, Angel Hidalgo and Sergio Garcia sat on the famous bench at the 16th hole of Royal Portrush.Getty Images

    Spanish trio of Jon Rahm, Angel Hidalgo and Sergio Garcia spent time together during the practice rounds

  3. Rory McIlroy sits on the bench

  4. Scottie Scheffler

  5. The gallery watches on as Rory McIlroy hits his approach into the 17th

  6. Bob MacIntyre plays a shot out of a bunker

  7. A flagstick at Royal Portrush

  8. Watch: Scheffler 'excited' by first Open title chase

    World number one Scottie Scheffler says he is "excited" for the challenge to win his first Open Championship on Sunday.

    The American carded a third round 67 to go into the final round 14 under par and four shots clear of China's China's Li Haotong.

  9. Scottie Scheffler

  10. Scottie Scheffler hitting a shot at The Open

  11. An image of The Open sign with a blurred Claret Jug in front

  12. Rory McIlroy

  13. Schauffele 'needed more' to contend after 66 at Open

    Xander Schauffele Getty Images

    Xander Schauffele won the Open at in 2024 at Royal Troon

    Defending Open champion Xander Schauffele says he does not feel he is in contention to retain his title.

    The two-time major champion eagled the seventh and twelfth in a third round of 66 that leaves him seven shots off leader Scottie Scheffler.

    World number one Scheffler carded a bogey-free round of 67 to take a four-shot lead into the final day, with China's Li Haotong on 10 under and England's Matt Fitzpatrick one shot further back.

    "I needed three more today to feel like I'm somewhere close enough to whatever Scheffler, Fitzpatrick or Li are going to post," Schauffele said.

    "I'm so far back, but who knows with the weather and whatnot. I believe in myself and what I can do.

    "Hopefully just try and shoot something and give myself a lot of opportunities."

    The 31-year-old, who won last year's Open at Royal Troon, was happy to share the course with home favourite Rory McIlroy and his legions of supporters.

    "I'm glad he's playing well for his home country," Schauffele said of McIlroy.

    "It's what golf needs and entertainment is high. I was on the 17th tee when I heard the reaction to him at the 12th. I assumed it was eagle.

    "I was pretty far away and it was very loud. It looks like he's enjoying it and it looks the like the fans are enjoying it too, which is great for this event."

  14. Justin Rose

  15. Scottie Scheffler

  16. Tyrrell Hatton

  17. Rory McIlroy

  18. Rory McIlroy

  19. Tyrrell Hatton

  20. Lowry left 'gutted' by Royal Portrush return

    Shane LowryGetty Images

    Shane Lowry was assessed a two-stroke penalty after the end of his second round on Friday

    Former champion Shane Lowry said his Open Championship at Royal Portrush has been "hard to take" after a shooting a three-over-par 74 in his third round on Saturday to sit three over for the tournament.

    The world number 18, who lifted the Claret Jug when the championship was last staged at the Northern Irish links in 2019, was assessed a two-stroke penalty for his ball moving during a practice swing after his second round on Friday.

    He then returned to the course for his third round suffering from a virus.

    "To be honest, I'm gutted," said the Irishman.

    "I wanted to do well so badly today and this week. I put so much into this week that, yeah, it's hard to take.

    "The annoying thing for me today is I didn't get to enjoy today as much as I would have liked - Saturday at The Open in your home country, I should enjoy it a lot more than I did, just because of how I felt."

    Lowry, who said he "was not too keen" to discuss the penalty incident for a second time, birdied the 13th on Saturday to get back to level par for the championship but followed that with a quadruple bogey on the next hole and dropped a further shot at the 17th.

    He said his illness contributed to a "lack of energy" in the closing stretch of holes.

    "Honestly, every bathroom I went in and tried to throw up, I couldn't," he added.

    "It's just such a bad feeling. I think lack of energy towards the end maybe did me in.

    "Look, I don't want to make excuses. It is what it is. It's just really bad timing, obviously."

  21. Rory McIlroy

  22. John Parry

  23. 'I'm obsessed with it' - Dornan on his love of golf

    Watch: Jamie Dornan on his love of golf and Rory McIlroy

    Jamie Dornan has been speaking to BBC Sport NI's Stephen Watson at Royal Portrush on his love of golf, being a member at the famous course and Rory McIlroy.

  24. 'Walking it in!' - Scheffler shoots fantastic seven-under 64 to lead Open

    World number one Scottie Scheffler shoots a brilliant 64 to lead the 153rd Open Championship at the halfway stage at Royal Portrush, Northern Ireland.