There was a moment in the middle of the afternoon Saturday at Royal Portrush where it still felt like anything was possible at the 2025 Open Championship. All scenarios were still on the table. Hope ran rampant around the property as the third round trundled on and player after player made birdie after birdie.

And they owe a serious debt of gratitude to Rory McIlroy after he discovered the lost ball in the most bizarre manner possible at this year's Open Championship. The Northern Irishman found himself in the rough following an errant effort off the tee on the ...

Rory McIlroy Aiming to Join Tiger Woods in Historic Record at Open Championship originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Rory McIlroy arrived at Royal Portrush buoyed by his victory at Augusta this April, hoping to exorcise the demons of his dramatic 2019 collapse here.

Rory McIlroy produced a stunning 66 on moving day at The Open Championship, but it was not enough to catch leader Scottie Scheffler

It was a return six years in the making, and it was a return that perfectly encapsulated Rory McIlroy. Making the trek back to Royal Portrush for The Open Championship -- now as a career grand slam winner -- the Northern Irishman experienced a topsy-turvy day as the hard stuff came easy and the easy stuff came hard.

Follow live coverage of the third round at the Open Championship as Scottie Scheffler looks to build his lead at Royal Portrush

Justin Rose will hope to once again be Rory McIlroy's team-mate at the upcoming Ryder Cup having seen firsthand just how valuable he can be to Team Europe's chances of victory