The 2025 Open Championship begins this week at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland, featuring Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke, and other top players. McIlroy returns as a fan favorite seeking redemption after missing the cut here in 2019, now fresh off his Masters victory. The event marks Portrush’s third Open hosting, with record crowds of 278,000 expected – Northern Ireland’s largest sporting event. McIlroy acknowledged this tournament was ‘circled more than The Masters’ on his calendar due to its local significance. The challenging Dunluce Links course features dramatic coastal holes like ‘Calamity Corner’ that will test the field.