Rory McIlroy is set to play the weekend at The Open Championship on home soil, with the Northern Irishman excelling in front of electric crowds at Royal Portrush

Rory McIlroy was safe off the tee on his first hole Thursday at The Open, but his putter let him down. Six years ago at Royal Portrush, McIlroy, who grew up less than an hour away, hit his opening shot out of bounds on the par-4 first on his way to a quadruple-bogey 8 and a 79.