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 18:49 · Michael Jones]

John Rahm makes up for his drop shot on 11 with a birdie on 12. He's back to (-5) and back out in front.

[18 July 2019 18:57 · Michael Jones]

Gone on Lee! Westwood (-2) gets lucky on the 16th with a putt from the edge of the green that falls into the hole right as it's about to stop rolling. He's within three and keeps on giving himself birdie chances. 

Finau (-3) has a birdie chance of his own the 15th. He sends the ball to right hoping it turns back to the left but the putt holds it's line. 

[18 July 2019 18:59 · Michael Jones]

Sang Hyun Park (-2) moves to 2-under par for the day with a solid birdie on the 10th.

[18 July 2019 19:06 · Michael Jones]

Hit it JB! Holmes (-4) has a 15 foot putt for birdie on the 17th. He finds the correct line but taps the putt up to the hole and leaves it too short.

[18 July 2019 19:08 · Michael Jones]

Rose (-2) finds one to drop on the difficult par-3 16. and moves up to 2-under. Three shots off the lead.

[18 July 2019 19:15 · Michael Jones]

Japan's Yuki Inamori (-3) makes a play for the top of the leaderboard. He's three under for the day, two under on the front nine and one under for the back, with a birdie on 11.

[18 July 2019 19:20 · Michael Jones]

Finally, finally Tiger (+6) comes to the party. He sends a putt on 15th across the green and it never leaves the centre of the hole. That's his first and only birdie of the day.

[18 July 2019 19:26 · Michael Jones]

There it is! JB Holmes makes a 10 foot birdie putt on the 18th green. He joins Rahm at (-5) and leads in the clubhouse with a round of 66. His playing partner Ernie Els goes round in a level par 71. 

Holmes started out with a bogey on the first but came back to card six birdies in the lowest round of the day. 

[18 July 2019 19:29 · Michael Jones]

Great save Tony Finau! He's a long way away from the hole on the 17th green and needs to sink his putt for par. He hits the putt firm and straight and is rewarded for his bravery. Finau (-3) stays two shots off the lead with one hole to go.

[18 July 2019 19:35 · Michael Jones]

Great stuff from Lee Westwood (-3) he birdies the last hole and moves up into fourth place. He posts a round of 68 with six birdies and three bogeys.