It’s the final Major of the year as the world’s best golfers bid for the Open Championship at Royal Troon.

You can follow all the action right here over the next few days.

59 minutes ago
Dylan O’Connell
Leaderboard:

Justin Thomas -3 (8)
Matt Wallace -3 (5)
Nicolai Hojgaard -2 (9)
Francesco Molinari -2 (9)

Selected others:

Rory McIlroy (10.09)
Shane Lowry (14.59)

5 minutes ago
Dylan O’Connell
It’s go-time. 

Wearing a black nike rain jacket with the rain tumbling down all around him, Rory McIlroy tees off in his bid to end his major drought.

It’s the perfect start as he draws a low long-iron down into the heart of the fairway on the par four first.

14 minutes ago
Dylan O’Connell
Brollies are out, the rain is coming down at Royal Troon

It is the Open Championship after all. Welcome to Scotland.

Conditions will be testy for the early starters including Rory McIlroy, who tees off in less than ten minutes time alongside Tyrrell Hatton and Max Homa.

24 minutes ago
Dylan O’Connell
Down golfer Tom McKibbin has twelve holes played of his first round, sitting on +1 after twelve.
Tom McKibbin
Tom McKibbin.Getty Images.
35 minutes ago
Dylan O’Connell
Shane Lowry will also have eyes on a second claret jug, after winning his first in Royal Portrush in 2019.

“I think it is the biggest tournament in the world,” says Lowry.

He’s one of the later starters on Thursday, teeing off at 14.59.

45 minutes ago
Dylan O’Connell
All eyes will inevitably be on Rory McIlroy to see how he recovers from his disappointment at the US Open last month.

Irish Independent golf writer Brian Keogh is at Royal Troon, and with a steer from Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley, he previews McIlroy’s chances here.

Today08:14 AM
Dylan O’Connell
Good morning!

You’re very welcome to our live-blog of the fourth and final major of the year, the Open Championship at Royal Troon, Scotland.

Rory McIlroy is on the tee at 10.09 am Irish time with Shane Lowry among the later starters, at, 14.59. Fellow former champion Darren Clarke is out at 13.48 with Padraig Harrington in action from 14.15.