The Open 2019 LIVE leaderbord: Rory McIlroy nine off lead as Shane Lowry leads the way and Tiger Woods begins

Follow the latest scores from the 148th Open Championship as the final major of the year returns to Northern Ireland for the first time in 68 years

The Open Championship in numbers

Follow the latest scores from The Open live as the first day at Royal Portrush gets underway.

The 148th Open Championship returns to Northern Ireland for only the second time in the tournament’s grand history, 68 years after first visiting Portrush in 1951, and features a heavily-packed Irish contingent of Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell and plenty others.

But a number of Americans arrive at the final major of the year heading the pecking order, with Brooks Koepka and Tiger Woods both hotly fancied after their recent form – the former unstoppable in majors over the last two years and latter claiming his 15th major at the Masters.

But there are plenty of other names in the mix from closer to home, with former world No 1 Justin Rose and in-form Englishman Matt Wallace among those to watch, while Jon Rahm is expected to challenge for his first major victory.

Follow the live scores below.

Latest updates

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Key Points

• Rory McIlroy makes quadruple bogey on opening hole
• Home favourite falls back to five-over after two horror putts on 15
• Tiger Woods makes uncomfortable start amid injury fears
• Shane Lowry clubhouse leader on -4 alongside Dylan Frittelli
• Emiliano Grillo ends Open wait for hole-in-one

[18 July 2019 06:57 · Michael Jones]

2nd hole

Clarke's found the bunker on the 2nd. He chips the ball out of the sand and lays up for an approach to the green with his third.

[18 July 2019 06:59 · Michael Jones]

1st hole

Sullivan sends his tee shot into the rough, potentially out of bounds, not a great start for the Englishman.

Better luck goes to South African Bezuidenhout and France's Levy who both find the fairway.

[18 July 2019 07:01 · Michael Jones]

1st hole

Up on the green Thurloway (A) (evs), Grillo (evs) and Kang (evs) all get in for par.

[18 July 2019 07:03 · Michael Jones]

He tees off in just over two hours time but can local hero Rory McIlroy come out victorious at Royal Portrush?

[18 July 2019 07:10 · Michael Jones]

2nd hole

Clarke (-1) recovers well from his trip to the beach to make par on the Par-5 second.

A fantastic approach from Sugrue (A) (-1) leaves him an easy tap in for birdie as he joins Clarke at the top of the leaderboard. 

Charley Hoffman (evs) continues on his with with another par.

[18 July 2019 07:12 · Michael Jones]

On the tee

Chan Kim, Zander Lombard and Brandon Wu (A) get their rounds underway in the fourth pairing of the day.

Padraig Harrington, Bubba Watson and Phil Mickelson will all be on the course before the hour is out.

[18 July 2019 07:14 · Michael Jones]

3rd hole

Clarke (-1) looks set to increase his lead with another birdie on the par-3 third hole. His tee shot finishes about two feet from the hole.

Sugrue (A) (-1) finds the green but Hoffman (evs) leaves his tee shot short.

[18 July 2019 07:17 · Michael Jones]

1st hole

Nightmare start for Andy Sullivan (+2) he was in trouble off the tee and makes double bogey on the first. 

Bezuidenhout (evs) and Levy (evs) both make par.

[18 July 2019 07:19 · Michael Jones]

3rd hole

It's been a very solid start from the opening group. Clarke sinks his birdie putt on the third to take the outright lead again.

Par, Par, Par for Charley Hoffman (evs).

Par, Birdie, Par for James Sugrue (A) (-1)

Birdie, Par, Birdie for Darren Clarke (-2) 

[18 July 2019 07:22 · Michael Jones]

2nd hole 

Thurloway (A) (evs), and Kang (evs) both putt in for par.

Grillo (-1) makes a birdie four.