Follow live as golf’s oldest major begins at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland with all eyes on local star Rory McIlroy

It was the moment the majority of Royal Portrush fans on opening day of the Open Championship had been waiting to see – as Masters champion and Northern Ireland hero Rory McIlroy stepped up to end the anticipation and tee off around 3pm on Thursday.

Yes. McIlroy debuted at the 2007 British Open as a low amateur. Since then, he has managed one win at the final golf major of the year. McIlroy finally completed the feat at the 2014 British Open, when the tournament was held at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Holylake, England.

PADDY Power have made a ballsy move by erecting a giant pair of underpants outside Royal Portrush as The Open tees off. The sign salutes local lad Rory McIlroy’s testicular fortitude when

“I’m going to say this to Rory: Rory, I love everything you’re doing,” McAfee said Wednesday on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show. “You walk up to the media and tell them to kiss your ass. You do whatever you need to do, buddy. It is great whenever you’re playing incredible golf. If you need to take some time, you need to take some time.”

Six years ago at Royal Portrush, McIlroy, who grew up less than an hour away, hit his opening shot out of bounds on the par-4 first on his way to a quadruple-bogey 8 and a 79. He pulled his tee shot again, this time around, but it settled safely in the left rough.

The last time the British Open came to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, Rory McIlroy missed the cut. Will he claim his second major of the year this time around?