Disaster on the first when the championship returned to the county Antrim golf course six years ago has made the field very wary as they begin their rounds

As the Open Championship returns to Royal Portrush, those who say Rory McIlroy shoot a record 61 around the course as a 16-year-old remember it as the day he went to "the next level" in his career.

Rory McIlroy exuded a sense of calm during his final practice round at Royal Portrush, even taking time to pose for some photos on a bench behind the fifth green in the beautiful sunshine.