Harrington to hit first shot at Open before the McIlroy show

Two-time major winner Padraig Harrington will have the honour of striking the first tee shot when the 153rd Open Championship returns to Royal Portrush on Thursday, launching golf's oldest major back onto Northern Ireland's dramatic County Antrim coastline.

Tee Times | Course Guide | Win with Steyn City | Watch on DStv

The Irishman, who captured back-to-back Opens in 2007 and 2008, will begin the action at 6:35am local time alongside Denmark's Nicolai Hojgaard and Northern Ireland's own Tom McKibbin.

McKibbin hails from Hollywood, 60 miles south of Portrush, but will not attract the same fanfare as the town's most celebrated son Rory McIlroy, who will be the favourite for the majority of the 270 000 fans expected throughout the week.

For five-time major winner McIlroy, it will be a homecoming after he completed his career grand slam with this year's Masters triumph.

He will tee off at 3:10pm alongside American two-time major winner Justin Thomas and Tommy Fleetwood, who is bidding to become the first English player to hoist the Claret Jug since Nick Faldo in 1992.

American Xander Schauffele begins his title defence at 9:58am in a powerful group featuring Spain's Jon Rahm and this year's surprise US Open champion JJ Spaun.

World No 1 Scottie Scheffler is in the next group alongside fellow American, 2021 champion Collin Morikawa, and Ireland's Shane Lowry, who romped to an emotional victory on this very Dunluce course six years ago.

Thursday's Featured Groups are in.

View the draw in full: https://t.co/1pArWZmUfu @rolex | #ReachForTheCrown pic.twitter.com/Z3wjT9k4Gc
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 15, 2025

McIlroy, 36, will be desperate to banish the ghosts of 2019, when his dream turned into a nightmare with a quadruple-bogey eight at the par-four opening hole after going out of bounds en route to a tournament-wrecking 79.

"It's lovely to be coming in here already with a major and everything else that's happened this year," McIlroy, whose maiden Open title came at Royal Liverpool in 2014, said. "I'm excited with where my game is. I feel like I'm in a good spot."

Rory's happy to be home. pic.twitter.com/BIAGdfW5cA
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 15, 2025

The recent scorching weather across Britain has left the scenic par-71 layout firm and fast, but thunderstorms have already disrupted practice rounds.

With heavy rain showers forecast for Thursday and the breeze expected to strengthen for the later starters, all 156 competitors will be keeping one eye on the fickle Causeway Coast weather as they chase golf's most coveted prize.

SCHAUFFELE READY TO SURF ANOTHER OPEN WAVE

Four birdies in his final eight holes swept Xander Schauffele to a two-shot victory in The Open Championship last year at Royal Troon in Scotland.

The World No. 3 hopes to catch a similar wave as he attempts to defend the Claret Jug this week at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland.

"There's typically a good wave and a bad wave in an Open Championship," Schauffele said on Tuesday. "You just keep your fingers crossed that you're in the good wave and try and play well. If you're not, fight for your life and make the cut and then try and do something on the weekend."

No golfer has won back-to-back Opens since Ireland's Padraig Harrington (2007-08) did it right after Tiger Woods (2005-06).

Schauffele, 31, dealt with a rib injury earlier this year and has yet to win a tournament this season after collecting his first two major victories last year at the PGA Championship at Valhalla and the Open. He matched his best finish of the season last week with a T8 at the Genesis Scottish Open.

Although he's had success with links-style golf, he admits he still has a lot to learn.

"I think even from last week to this week, we actually have divots flying this week. Last week was ball mark-less and divot-less," Schauffele said.

"Just learning how the ball reacts on certain grass, if it's going to jump or not, when you're sitting in like a fescue bush or weed, how that's going to come out, how much it's going to grab your club. There's so many things you still learn on the way.

"More of it's just the mentality. I think, when you say links golf, it comes with weather, and when you play in bad weather, you have to have a good attitude."

Schauffele played well at the first three majors this year, tying for eighth at the Masters, for 28th at the PGA and for 12th place at the US Open.

He tied for 41st the last time the Open was played at Royal Portrush in 2019.

"Coming here, I feel like I'm trying to relearn this golf course, get comfortable with certain sight lines, some blind tee shots," he said.

"I think, if I can get myself in the mix is when I think I would have an advantage. That's where my biggest edge would be. I can lean on experience at other points in time, but I think the most fun and the biggest advantage I would have is coming down the stretch if I can get close to that lead.

Schauffele is paired with Spain's Jon Rahm and reigning US Open champion JJ Spaun for the first two rounds.