12:32
Scheffler moves up the leaderboard
Scheffler -2 (7)
Scheffler makes easy work of the par-4 7th.
After splitting the fairway, the World No.1 knocks his approach to five feet and rolls in the birdie putt.
Rory McIlroy
The Open Round 1 Leaderboard: Rory McIlroy remains in the hunt despite shocking day off the tee
The Open Championship Round One Leaderboard: Rory McIlroy finishes in the red despite an errant day off the tee, while Scottie Scheffler moves serenely into contention for a first Claret Jug.
Rory McIlroy still managed to finish in the red despite an errant performance off the tee in the first round of the 153rd Open.
Home favourite McIlroy bogeyed the 1st after missing a short putt for par but he recovered well to progress nicely to 3-under par around the turn.
The wheels soon came off for the grand slam champion as he fell all the way back to level par, but a birdie on the penultimate hole after a brilliant approach from the deep rough saw McIlroy finish the day at 1-under par and right bang in contention.
That's just three shots off the pace, currently set by a logjam group of players including Harris English, Jacob Skov Olesen, Haotong Li, Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Matt Fitzpatrick.
McIlroy incredibly found just two fairways all day, which came at the 8th and 9th.
He didn't hit a single fairway on the back nine, which will no doubt be some concern for the Northern Irishman heading into Friday.
As expected, pre-tournament favourite Scottie Scheffler is hot on the heels of the leaders courtesy of a 3-under 68.
Scheffler nearly holed out for eagle on the 17th, a shot that was made even more dramatic after what unfolded in the commentary box.
The World No.1 is seeking a first Open Championship, which would send him to within one leg of the career grand slam.
England's Tyrrell Hatton also carded a 68 alongside his compatriot Matt Jordan.
Justin Rose, Lee Westwood and Rickie Fowler all moved nicely into contention with rounds of 2-under 69.
Jon Rahm, Phil Mickelson, and 2019 Open winner Shane Lowry also kept themselves in the hunt thanks to rounds of 70.
Defending champion Xander Schauffele carded a level par 71.
Ireland's Padraig Harrington hit the first tee shot and he brought the house down with an opening birdie, but he would go on to card a 75.
Elsewhere, LIV Golf superstar Bryson DeChambeau posted his worst opening round at a major with a dismal 7-over 78.
1 | Jacob Skov Olesen | -4 |
1 | Haotong Li | -4 |
1 | Matt Fitzpatrick | -4 |
1 | Christiaan Bezuidenhout | -4 |
1 | Harris English | -4 |
6 | Scottie Scheffler | -3 |
6 | Matt Jordan | -3 |
6 | Tyrrell Hatton | -3 |
6 | Sadom Kaewkanjana | -3 |
Scroll down this page to see how the first round played out at the 153rd Open...
17 Jul 2025
12:29
Westwood keeps it rolling
Westwood -4 (14*)
Lee Westwood is playing in his first Open since 2022, but he's not playing like a man who has any major championship rust.
A birdie at the par-5 12th lifted the Englishman into a share of the lead.
Westwood escapes the par-3 13th with a par to keep his clean card going.
Four left...
12:17
Reaction from Padraig Harrington
Padraig Harrington struck the opening tee shot this morning after a 4am wake-up call.
He's just been speaking to the media here at Portrush.
"I hyped up the opening tee shot as much as I could so when I got there, it wasn't so bad," he said.
"I was decently comfortable when I got on the tee. I didn't try for too much. I got a little emotional as I was clapped on, then I calmed down and was fine when I was hitting it."
Harrington added that he was disappointed with his round of 75.
Too many three-putts kills you at The Open, he said.
12:15
Olesen posts 66
Jacob Skov Olesen pays the price for a poor approach into the 18th.
The young Dane can't salvage a par after missing the green right, but it's still a remarkable start for the 26-year-old.
Olesen posts a 4-under 66 to set the target.
12:10
Birdie for Mickelson
Phil Mickelson
Mickelson -1 (17)
Superb stuff from Mickelson.
The 2013 winner rolls in a 25-footer at the 17th to get back to 1-under.
One more hole to go for the American.
12:08
Leaderboard update
Rank | Name | Score | Holes |
1 | Jacob Skov Olesen | -5 | 17 |
2 | Lee Westwood | -4 | 12 |
3 | Haotong Li | -3 | 14 |
4 | Nicolai Hojgaard | -2 | (69) |
4 | Chris Gotterup | -2 | 12 |
4 | Sebastian Soederberg | -2 | 10 |
4 | Matthew Jordan | -2 | 10 |
4 | Kristoffer Reitan | -2 | 9 |
4 | Matthew Fitzpatrick | -2 | 8 |
4 | Shane Lowry | -2 | 6 |
11:58
Unlucky for Koepka
B. Koepka -1 (7*)
Brooks Koepka is on the par-5 7th.
After laying up, the big American zips a wedge in close and is applauded.
But then the crowd groans as they watch Koepka's golf ball gather pace and slip off the back edge.
Tough to make par now, Brooksy!
11:53
Pars for the marquee group
Lowry -1, Morikawa +1, Scheffler -1 (5)
All three players will be disappointed at settling for par on the 5th given this is a birdie hole.
We've been told all week you have to make your score on the front 9 at Royal Portrush...
11:46
Encouraging start for Jon Rahm
Rahm -1 (6)
Plenty of good vibes here for Jon Rahm.
Although it's early, the Spaniard is looking solid.
A birdie putt from about 15 feet just about catches the left edge of the cup at the par-3 6th.
11:39
Xander moves into the red
Schauffele -1 (5)
The defending champion picks up his first birdie of the day at the par-5 4th.
Schauffele neatly judges a long-range eagle putt and has the easiest of birdie putts to get into the red.
11:36
Phil Mickelson bogey
Mickelson E (14)
Phil Mickelson makes his second bogey in four holes at the 14th.
Lefty has an outside chance for birdie at the 15th coming up.
11:29
Jacob Skov Olesen is flying!
Olesen -5 (15)
The Dane picks up another birdie at the 15th to move two clear at the top of the leaderboard.
Chipped in from 23 yards. Jacob Skov Olesen extends his lead with a birdie on 15. pic.twitter.com/KQW8YZe9Qe
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025
11:18
Fox awful start
Fox +5 (6)
New Zealand's Fox will likely not be winning a first Open title.
He's 5-over thru 6.
11:17
Leaderboard update
Jacob Skov Olesen | -4 | 14 |
Haotong Li | -3 | 11 |
Lee Westwood | -3 | 9 |
Nicolai Hojgaard | -2 | 17 |
Matt Jordan | -2 | 8 |
Matt Fitzpatrick | -2 | 6 |
Nico Echavarria | -2 | 2 |
11:15
Jordan to 2 under
Jordan -2 (8)
England's Matt Jordan moves into the top five with a birdie on the par-4 8th.
He's just two back.
11:07
18 players under par
18 players in the red so far.
There are plenty of birdies to be found at Royal Portrush, but also some big numbers awaiting if you're not on your guard.
Olesen remains out in front, one shot ahead of Westwood and Li, with Hojgaard two back. Then 14 players are on 1-under, including World No.1 Scheffler, who has just birdied the 3rd.
10:55
Lowry birdie
Lowry -1 (2)
Lowry two putts for his birdie on the par-5 2nd to move into the red.
The 2019 Open champion at Portrush makes his early move to the delight of the home fans.
lowry
10:43
Li birdie
Li -3 (10)
China's Li moves a shot off the pace with a birdie on the 10th.
Li to 3-under.
10:42
Olesen hits the front
Olesen -4 (12)
We have a new leader.
Jacob Skov Olesen has just made a brilliant eagle on the par-5 12th to vault to the front on 4-under.
Olesen is ranked a lowly 354th in the world and he's only had two top 10 finishes on the DP World Tour all season.
Jacob Skov Olesen moves to four-under with an eagle on 12 to take the lead. pic.twitter.com/LjaBfccHEY
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025
10:31
Westwood hits the front
Westwood -3 (7)
Westwood is rolling back the years.
The LIV Golf man has just made birdie on the par-5 7th to become the first player to 3-under.
He leads by one.
Westwood qualified for The Open after winning a qualifier at Dundonald.
10:25
Scheffler par at 1
Scheffler Par (1)
A wild drive from Scheffler finds the deep stuff but he escapes with par on the 1st.
10:23
Lowry opens with a par
Lowry Par (1)
Lowry, who won The Open the last time it was staged at Portrush in 2019, has just opened with a par at 1.
Looking to repeat his success in 2019 at Royal Portrush, Shane Lowry is under way. pic.twitter.com/3vSwKySU4P
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025
10:16
Golden chance missed for Rahm
Rahm Par, Schauffele Par (1)
Rahm misses a six footer for birdie on the par-4 1st but it's a safe par.
Schauffele, the defending champ, also makes a par on the 1st.
10:15
Fitzpatick eagle
Fitzpatrick -2 (2)
Great start for England's Fitzpatrick.
He's just buried an eagle from 23 feet on the par-5 2nd to move into a tie for the lead on 2-under.
Hojgaard, Li, Westwood, Mickelson and Olesen also on that score.
10:14
Hojgaard back to the top
Hojgaard -2 (13)
Some rollercoaster round for Hojgaard.
He's just birdied the 13th to move back to 2-under par.
