Rory McIlroy's legion of fans came in hope more than expectation to the final day of the British Open at Royal Portrush.

If you played enough golf like Rory McIlroy, you'd think you've seen everything that can happen on a golf course. If you've watched as much golf as his fans have through the years, you'd think the same.

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.

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.

In post-round interviews, especially during bigger tournaments, you'll often hear tour pros say they plan to go back to their hotels or rental homes and get their minds off golf. For some that may mean playing with the kids,

Rory McIlroy calls for The Open to return to Royal Portrush after Scottie Scheffler’s stunning victory. He praises the venue and crowd.

Rory McIlroy reacts to the 'incredible atmosphere' and his performance on day 3 of The British Open

Home country advantage wasn't enough for Rory McIlroy at this year's Open Championship but the 2025 Masters champion was still able to leave Royal Portrush in decent spirits. After finishing tied for seventh with a two-under Round 4,