PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — The moment that surprised Rory McIlroy the most when he played the 2019 Britidh Open at Royal Portrush—the first Open held in his home country of Northern Ireland since 1951—was the ovation on the first tee.

Rory McIlroy stayed true to his word. On the eve of the 153rd Open Championship, he said that he is now a complete enough player that he can play poorly and still compile a first round that affords him a chance.

While Rory McIlroy’s Masters triumph earned him a long-awaited career grand slam, a home Open Championship win at Royal Portrush could be even more emotion for the Northern Irishman.

As Rory McIlroy gears up for The Open Championship — the season's final major — his wife Erica Stoll and family are rallying behind him. The 36-year-old is set to return to Northern Ireland for the prestigious event taking place at Royal Portrush Golf Club in County Antrim next week.

Rory McIlroy may have begun another year with the ambition of completing a career Grand Slam but a return to his home Open at Royal Portrush was the one week he was really looking forward to.The 36-year-old did duly end an 11-year wait to add a Masters green jacket to his collection,

Rory McIlroy has not looked like himself since he reached the pinnacle of the mountain he’d been trying to climb for nearly 15 years when he captured the Masters in April to complete the career ...

For many Masters champs, the highlight reel ended that day. Even Tiger Woods might not have been immune to a possible Augusta hex. A lot of time has been spent analyzing Rory McIlroy’s post ...

Rory McIlroy may have begun another year with the ambition of completing a career Grand Slam but a return to his home Open at Royal Portrush was the one week he was really looking forward to.

McIlroy conceded to being emotionally overwhelmed at the 2019 Open at Portrush, where he missed the cut. “I didn’t realize how emotional I was going to be at Portrush,’’ he said.