It was clear as early as Saturday afternoon that McIlroy was unlikely to emulate his close friend Shane Lowry and become a Portrush Open champion – at least not this time – but the fans still held a smidgeon of hope going into the final round, perhaps choosing to forget who the runaway leader was.

“Rory did win,” said Brian McDermott, from Moville, Co Donegal. “He brought the Open to Portrush. The Open would not be here without him, so that is a win. “Six years ago, he missed the cut, so to get him, and to watch him, and to see him finish – that is a win.

Home favourite Rory McIlroy has said he is looking forward to playing “two more Open Championships” at Royal Portrush.

While Rory McIlroy’s Northern Ireland homecoming didn’t have the fairytale finish of winning a second Claret Jug at Royal Portrush, the atmosphere surrounding his return was still the highlight of an unforgettable Open Championship.

Legendary golfer Phil Mickelson continues to defy expectations, competing in another major championship at the age of 55. The lefty shot one under par through the first round at Royal Portrush and delivered a jaw-dropping moment on the third hole.

Rory McIlroy was on the wrong end of one of the craziest moments you'll ever see at a major championship on the 11th hole at Royal Portrush on Saturday, when he hit his ball from the rough and dug out a second embedded ball that was below his.