While Rory McIlroy’s Masters triumph earned him a long-awaited career grand slam, a home Open Championship win at Royal Portrush could be even more emotion for the North Irishman.

Rory McIlroy completed the career grand slam at the Masters in April, but apparently that was not his biggest goal of the season.

Rory McIlroy rarely got to play in Northern Ireland as a pro before the 2019 Open Championship was staged at Royal Portrush Golf Club. He remembers the internal pressure when he arrived for his tee time that Thursday -- the pressure of wanting to be the hero for his country.

McIlroy didn't play his best Thursday at Royal Portrush but shot 1-under 70 and is three shots off the 18-hole lead.

Six years after recording a quadruple-bogey 8 on No. 1 at Royal Portrush, Rory McIlroy carded a bogey-5 en route to a 1-under 70 that left him right in the mix at the Open. "I didn't feel like I was walking into the unknown this time around,

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