It was a return six years in the making, and it was a return that perfectly encapsulated Rory McIlroy. Making the trek back to Royal Portrush for The Open Championship -- now as a career grand slam winner -- the Northern Irishman experienced a topsy-turvy day as the hard stuff came easy and the easy stuff came hard.

The Open at Portrush was a lot for Rory McIlroy to handle in 2019. After the first round in 2025, in which he went 1 under, he tells Cara Banks he's handling it much better this time and looks forward to Friday.