The Open

  1. Lowry would love Open to return to Portrush 'next year'

    Andy Gray
    BBC Sport NI Journalist at Royal Portrush

    Shane Lowry waves at fans on the 18th hole at Royal PortrushGetty Images

    Shane Lowry ended a frustrating week in Northern Ireland on a high

    Shane Lowry says he would like the Open to return to Royal Portrush "next year" after an "incredible" week of support.

    Irishman Lowry won the Open when it was last played in Northern Ireland in 2019 but could not replicate that success in this year's tournament.

    Lowry said he would like to see the tournament return to Portrush and feels that Portmarnock would be "amazing" if the Open was to be played in the Republic of Ireland for the first time.

    "The feedback from the players involved has been about how much they have loved this tournament and venue," he said on Portrush.

    "As regards to Portmarnock, I've heard it might go there and it would be amazing as it's only 30 minutes from my house.

    "I think it's one of the best golf courses in the world and it's good enough to host the Open. Hopefully it will soon."

    It had been a frustrating week on the course for Lowry, who dropped out of contention and had to battle to make the cut after he was handed a two-stroke penalty for moving his ball on a practice swing.

    That led the 38-year-old to say he wasn't a "cheat", and his then struggled further on Saturday with illness.

    However, a closing 66 meant he left Royal Portrush with a smile on his face and he will turn his attention to the FedEx Cup play-offs and the Ryder Cup in New York in September.

    "The crowds were amazing. They got behind me the whole day and it was probably one of the most enjoyable rounds of golf I've had in a while.

    "I'll drive down the road a little bit happier than I would have been.

    "It's still a week where I put a lot into it but didn't get a lot out of it. Onwards and upwards I suppose."

    Shane Lowry wants The Open to return to Royal Portrush next year

  2. Shane Lowry

  3. Li Haotong

  4. 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

  5. Rory McIlroy sits on the bench

  6. Scottie Scheffler

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

  8. Bob MacIntyre plays a shot out of a bunker

  9. A flagstick at Royal Portrush

  10. 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.

  11. Scottie Scheffler

  12. Scottie Scheffler hitting a shot at The Open

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

  14. Rory McIlroy

  15. 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."

  16. Justin Rose

  17. Scottie Scheffler

  18. Tyrrell Hatton

  19. Rory McIlroy

  20. Rory McIlroy

  21. Tyrrell Hatton

  22. 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."

  23. Rory McIlroy

  24. John Parry