The Open

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We are edging closer and closer to the first round of the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush.

Here's a quick look at what to expect on Wednesday.

We'll hear from the R&A around 11:00 BST this morning and we'll bring you that press conference live on the BBC Sport website.

Also speaking to the media is Justin Rose. The 2013 US Open champion will be in the interview room around 12:30 BST and that'll be streamed live too.

Out on the course this morning getting in some final practice we have Padraig Harrington and Adam Scott with talk that Rory McIlroy may make an appearance again.

Image source, Getty Images

Let's have a quick look at some of the big names and when they are out on Thursday (all times BST):

Padraig Harrington, Nicolai Hojgaard and Tom McKibbin (06:35)

Phil Mickelson, Daniel van Tonder and Ryan Peake (07:19)

Xander Schauffele, JJ Spaun and Jon Rahm (09:58)

Shane Lowry, Collin Morikawa and Scottie Scheffler (10:09)

Russell Henley, Tyrrell Hatton and Min Woo Lee (14:37)

Robert MacIntyre, Justin Rose and Bryson DeChambeau (14:48)

Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Thomas (15:10)

You can get a full list of Thursday and Friday's tee times here

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport senior journalist at Royal Portrush

Image source, Getty Images

It has been 37 years since a Spaniard won The Open - back in 1988 when the late Seve Ballesteros claimed his third title.

Jon Rahm is well aware. He's had three top-10s in his past four Opens and warmed up for this week with a runner-up finish at last week's LIV golf event in Andalucia, in his home country.

"The Open Championship is the most prestigious event you can win in golf," stated the 2021 US Open and 2023 Masters champion.

"For my understanding of the game and the history, the Claret Jug is the most special one.

"There's an order to it too because it changes venues, so if you can win it in St Andrews, I don't think anything in golf can come close to that.

"It's the home of golf. Golf started in this part of the world. It's the oldest championship we have, and that's what makes it so special - the type of golf we play, the links courses where in theory it is meant to be played, the elements, the weather, it's quite unique. I don't think there's a word to describe it, but all together it's what makes it so special."

The defending champion Xander Schauffele speaks to BBC Sport NI's Gavin Andrews about the conditions at Royal Portrush and his hopes on retaining his title.

Stephen Watson
BBC Sport NI at Royal Portrush

A lovely moment here at Royal Portrush as local teenager Lucia Heaney has her portrait of Rory McIlroy signed by the man himself.

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.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport senior journalist at Royal Portrush

Image source, Getty Images

Robert MacIntyre had a frustrating Scottish Open last week, but says his way of dealing with that means it is now firmly in the past.

He went into the event at the Renaissance Club near Edinburgh as defending champion but finished 17 shots adrift of surprise winner Chris Gotterup.

"After the round on Sunday I picked apart some things that will help me going forward," said the Scot.

"I'm pretty good at telling everyone give me an hour. I can do whatever I want for an hour and after that, my job's done. I just get back to life.

"For two hours before my round, I'm preparing, so nobody gets in my way. It's warm-up, stretching, gym work, all of that. So there's an eight-hour window that I'm working.

"If you have a bad day at work, you're going to be annoyed. It happens more often than not for me as well."

MacIntyre comes into this week's Open as one of the favourites after recording his best finish at a major at the US Open in June where he finished runner-up.

He made his major debut at Royal Portrush in 2019, finishing in a tie for sixth at a venue he rates highly.

"The whole golf course is absolutely beautiful to the eye but it also plays absolutely brilliantly," he said.

"You've got holes that you've got a chance, and then you've got holes that you just try to hang on."

Stephen Watson
BBC Sport NI at Royal Portrush

Another momentous occasion for Northern Irish golf this morning at Royal Portrush.

Two Open champions - Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy - out on the course with one who would love to join that elusive club, Tom McKibbin.

After an early start on Monday, McIlroy was the first out at 6:45 this morning with Clarke joining him on the first fairway and McKibbin following on the green.

This will be Clarke's 33rd Open Championship, McIlroy's 16th and McKibbin's 2nd.