The collapse of plans to host matches in football's Euro 2028 tournament in Belfast damaged Northern Ireland's reputation in the world of sport. The spectacular pictures and smooth running of The Open at Royal Portrush have helped to regain some of the reputational ground which was lost.

Tom McKibbin has been backed to reach the very top of the game by the PGA Tour legend, while he also reserved the utmost praise for Rory McIlroy

It was not quite the glorious homecoming Rory McIlroy had dared to dream of on his return to Royal Portrush but it felt like redemption for Northern Ireland's favourite sporting son after the heartbreak of six years ago.

Rory McIlroy didn't disappoint his countrymen at Royal Portrush, and is ready to spend some more time on European soil.

Rory McIlroy had a singular pursuit. Visit his hometown of Holywood, in Northern Ireland, and you leave knowing the truth of that.

If McIlroy didn’t quite deliver, then Royal Portrush — where he shot 61 as a 16-year-old for the course record — certainly did, gaining widespread rave reviews.

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Rory McIlroy arrived in his home country with unfinished business. He lost the Open by seven - but left with something important nonetheless. The post Rory McIlroy lost the Open. He found something he’d been missing appeared first on Golf.