Golf

Graeme McDowell tees off at the Open

 Graeme McDowell tees off the 5th at Royal Portrush. Picture by Richard Sellers, PA Wire
 Graeme McDowell tees off the 5th at Royal Portrush. Picture by Richard Sellers, PA Wire  Graeme McDowell tees off the 5th at Royal Portrush. Picture by Richard Sellers, PA Wire

GRAEME McDowell has teed off at the Open at Royal Portrush.

McDowell is grouped with Henrik Stenson and Xander Schauffele and teed off the 5th at 9.14am.

Darren Clarke hit the opening shot this morning at the much-anticipated Open Championship at Royal Portrush.

The 2011 champion has a house overlooking the course and played a big part in the British Open’s return to his home links.

In a bridging of the generations, joining 50-year-old Clarke on the first tee was 22-year-old Corkman James Sugrue, the British Amateur champion. Also in their 6.35am group was American Charley Hoffman.

All six Irish players had early tee times.

Rory McIlroy, who set the course record of 61 at Portrush aged 16,  had a 10.09am tee time with US Open champion Gary Woodland and England’s Paul Casey.

Pádraig Harrington was scheduled for a 7.30am tee time with Matt Fitzpatrick and American Andrew Putnam.

Shane Lowry hit off at 7.52am with Phil Mickelson and Branden Grace.

Clarke said he was asked three weeks ago by the R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers to hit the opening tee shot. “I was honoured to be asked,” said Clarke.

"It's Royal Portrush, it's the first time it has been here for 68 years and I gladly accepted," Clarke said. "Sometimes it can also be a good draw teeing off so early."

Others to watch

Three-time champion Tiger Woods, who won his 15th major at the Masters in April, is out at 15:10.

Woods will play with his Ryder Cup team-mate Patrick Reed and England's Matt Wallace.

World number one Brooks Koepka, who won the US PGA Championship in May and finished second at both the Masters and US Open this year, is out at 13:04. His caddie Ricky Elliott is also a Portrush native, which may help overcome a perceived lack of links experience. 

 Rory McIlroy tees off at the Open. Picture by David Davies, PA Wire
 Rory McIlroy tees off at the Open. Picture by David Davies, PA Wire  Rory McIlroy tees off at the Open. Picture by David Davies, PA Wire