2025 British Open: Rory McIlroy's Opening Tee Shot Led to Everyone Making Same Joke

Andy Nesbitt | Jul 17, 2025

Rory McIlroy kept his ball in play on the first hole at the British Open on Thursday. / @TheOpen

The 2025 British Open is underway at Royal Portrush, where the best golfers in the world will be battling the conditions and each other for the Claret Jug in the final major of the year.

Many fans watching along the legendary course this week will be cheering for the hometown hero, Rory McIlroy. The 2025 Masters champ is off and running after his late tee time in the opening round and all eyes were on his tee shot on the first hole. Partly because it's Rory McIlroy, but mostly because when the tournament was last held here in 2019 he pumped his first drive out of bounds to the left.

McIlroy took an iron off the tee on the par-4 and while he didn't hit the fairway, he didn't go out of bounds, either, as his shot settled in the long stuff on the left.

Hometown hero. Rory’s underway.
Watch his Featured Group on R&A TV. pic.twitter.com/1B8R0r7jsT

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025

McIlroy ended up making bogey on the hole, which was three shots better than his score on the first hole in 2019.

His tee shot led to fans making pretty much the same joke.

Rory McIlroy: 1-for-1 on in-bounds tee shots.

— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelGolf) July 17, 2025

Not great off the first tee for Rory but his iron is in bounds this time. Better than last time...he's got that going for him.

— Adam Schupak (@AdamSchupak) July 17, 2025

It’s in bounds!

— Riley Hamel (@rileyhamel_) July 17, 2025

That's gotta be the happiest missed fairway of Rory's life.

— Shane Bacon (@shanebacon) July 17, 2025

Looks like he won’t make 8 this time

— sean hall (@goosehall63) July 17, 2025

First tee shot in play. ✅

Rory can exhale now. 😅 pic.twitter.com/3RjH3HYId4

— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) July 17, 2025

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