McIlroy’s brilliance was broken up with a bizarre incident in a captivating round at Royal Portrush, with Scottie Scheffler surging clear by four shots (-14) in pursuit of the Claret Jug

Golfer Rory McIlroy's 2025 has been quite eventful, but his golfing game got pretty strange for a second during Saturday's The Open round at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Island.

Home favourite Rory McIlroy birdied three of his first four holes to mount a third-round charge as world number Scottie Scheffler maintained his British Open lead in perfect scoring conditions on Saturday.

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Rory McIlroy gave the home crowds exactly what they craved on Saturday: He used the traditional third-round “moving day’’ to make a move up the leaderboard. McIlroy, who began the day at 3-under par, seven shots behind leader Scottie Scheffler, activated the huge Portrush crowds with a third-round 5-under-par 66.

Rory McIlroy shot 1 under Thursday at Royal Portrush, a better start than the first time he played the British Open at the Northern Ireland course near home.

Rory McIlroy's first round at Royal Portrush was the usual rollercoaster of a ride but he came through it and is just three off the lead heading into Friday.

At this time six years ago, Rory McIlroy was already on his way home, heartbroken about missing the cut in his first “home” British Open.

Rory McIlroy shot 1-under 70 in the first round of the British Open at Royal Portrush that is also serving as a homecoming for the Northern Irish star