Rory’s hometown (dis)advantage

The 153rd Open Championship tees off this

Thursday, marking the final major of 2025. This year’s venue, Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, stands out as the only course in the Open rota located outside Great Britain.

How can the (British) Open be held outside Britain? But that is exactly why Royal Portrush is special.

Located in Northern Ireland — part of the UK but not of Britain (which comprises England, Scotland and Wales) — this year marks only the third time the Open will be held outside the British mainland.

The two other times were in 1951 and 2019.

While 3/153 might seem unfair, with Scotland and England hosting most Opens, you might be surprised to know that Wales has never hosted — not even once.

There have been Ladies Opens, British Amateur and Senior Opens held at Wales’ Royal Porthcawl, but never the big one.

While infrastructure has been cited as the main reason, Wales — and Cardiff, one of the UK’s top cities — deserves to host an Open.

But let’s get back to Royal Portrush.

The mention of Royal Portrush will always be tied with Rory McIlroy. As a 16-year-old, Rory famously shot a 61 at the venue.

McIlroy also grew up in Holywood, Northern Ireland, just a little over an hour away from this year’s Open Championship venue.

So growing up, Royal Portrush was THE course for Rory and a host of other Irish pros. But more than Rory’s 61 as a teen, his horrendous firstround 79 will be the number most associated between him and the course.

In 2019, coming in as a favorite and with the Open back in Northern Ireland after 68 long years, Rory succumbed to the pressure of expectations and wanting to win an Open in Northern Ireland so badly.

Maybe more than winning The Masters and the career Grand Slam, an Open victory at Royal Portrush might be more meaningful to McIlroy and probably carries more pressure.

Rory’s chances this year are as good as any. He just won the Masters in April and almost won the Scottish Open last week. He seems to be peaking at the right time.

But can he hold it together this time and bury the ghosts of the 2019 Open?

This week should be as good a major as any and a grand end to golf’s major season.

After The Open, only the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in September comes close to matching the excitement of the majors.

But 2025’s majors have been great for golf fans. From Rory’s Masters to Scotty’s PGA, to JJ Spaun’s US Open, I’m hoping the year’s final major is as epic as the previous three.