A raucous reception will greet Rory McIlroy as the British Open returns to Royal Portrush and Northern Ireland on Thursday for the first time since Shane Lowry's 2019 triumph.Two-time champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland will hit the opening tee shot at 6:35 am local time,

Lowry feels “rejuvenated” and as prepared as he could be in his bid to become the first player to win consecutive British Opens at the same course since Tiger Woods at St. Andrews in 2000 and ’05.

Shane Lowry didn’t know what to make of the mural at first. He doesn’t look at himself as someone worthy of being celebrated as a national hero.

Missing the cut at the past two majors hasn't dimmed Shane Lowry's confidence as the Irishman returns to the scene of his greatest triumph this week.

The final major of 2025 begins on Thursday with the 2025 Open Championship, and after J.J. Spaun won the most recent major with odds longer than 100-1 at the U.S. Open, longshot bets could be a trendy way to attack the 2025 Open Championship on betting sites.

If we have any quarrel with the mural, it's that Lowry stands alone. Portrush proper is home to barely 6,000 souls, yet the R&A expects over a quarter-million pilgrims this week. The mathematics should spell chaos, but when an entire community vibrates at the same frequency—when everyone wants to be here—logistics become footnotes. It just works.

Shane Lowry was not pleased with reporters as they opened his press conference with a question about his drinking. Lowry claimed victory at Royal Portrush back in 2019, and made sure to party in true style after the win.

A mural of Shane Lowry holding aloft the claret jug adorns the side wall of a house just across the road from Royal Portrush.

BBC Sport NI's Stephen Watson speaks to 2019 Open champion Shane Lowry ahead of the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush.