Open Championship returns to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, the site of Shane Lowry's triumph in 2019. As has been the case all year, the strong favorites entering the tournament are Scottie Scheffler (9/2) and Rory McIlroy (7-1).

Rory McIlroy is back at Royal Portrush and feeling plenty of love as the Masters champion. It's far different from when the British Open was last held in Northern Ireland.

Rory McIlroy rarely got to play in Northern Ireland as a pro before the 2019 Open Championship was staged at Royal Portrush Golf Club. He remembers the internal pressure when he arrived for his tee time that Thursday -- the pressure of wanting to be the hero for his country.

The crowds following Rory McIlroy for three days at Royal Portrush have been enormous, a reminder of the expectations. On banners and flags and buntings of grandstands there are images of the claret jug,

Shocked by the strength of the reception that greeted the returning hero at the start of the 2019 Open, McIlroy famously fired out of bounds off the tee, took eight shots to get the ball in the hole and went on to card a 79.

The field also includes 49 of the world's top 50 players, from Scottie Scheffler to Rory McIlroy, ranked No. 1 and No. 2 respectively, 16 past winners, and 19 top players from the Liv Golf, the Arab Super League.

Royal Portrush has a storied history in the evolution of golf in Ireland as it prepares to host The Open for a third time

While Rory McIlroy’s Masters triumph earned him a long-awaited career grand slam, a home Open Championship win at Royal Portrush could be even more emotion for the North Irishman.