RIATH AL-SAMARRAI AT ROYAL PORTRUSH: After the choke came the roar. Unfortunately for Rory McIlroy, it wasn't quite loud enough to change the outcome of this sorry and soggy trip home.

An emotional Rory McIlroy was left holding back tears after missing the cut in The Open at Royal Portrush by a shot following a valiant six-under par second round of 65. 

MIKE DICKSON AT PORTRUSH: Rory McIlroy would have needed to be a robot not to feel the pressure of playing in the Open on its return to Portrush, according to Graeme McDowell.

DEREK LAWRENSON AT PORTRUSH: Paul McGinley compares Rory McIlroy to the brightest schoolboy in the classroom who has a tendency to daydream every now and then. 

DEREK LAWRENSON AT PORTRUSH: Shane Lowry became The Open champion on Sunday, Sportsmail's golf correspondent gives his highs and lows of the tournament.

Lowry stormed to his very first major win on Sunday, cruising home by six shots at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. By contrast McIlroy missed Friday's cut by one shot.

McIlroy has won two tournaments this season and is the No 1 on the PGA Tour when it comes to the two most important categories concerning play from tee to green but he struggled at The Open.

Rory McIlroy grabbed a one-shot lead over Brooks Koepka in the third round at the WGC-St. Jude Invitational in Memphis on Saturday, setting up the prospect of a mouth-watering finale.

Now we know how to get Brooks Koepka interested in events outside the majors. Just stick Rory McIlroy next to him going into the final round.

Rory McIlroy carded a six-under-par 65 in the opening round of The Northern Trust as Tiger Woods struggled to a 75 in the first FedEx Cup play-off event.

Rory McIlroy embarrassed Matt Kuchar in hilarious fashion during a sponsor's event, leaving his rival squirming and world No 1 Brooks Koepka in fits of laughter.

DEREK LAWRENSON - WORLD OF GOLF: Are we about to see a genuine rivalry break out in golf? Goodness knows, there have been enough false dawns.

Rory McIlroy picked up five shots in his last five holes to fly up the leaderboard and sit just one shot off the lead heading into the weekend at the Omega European Masters.

Andres Romero opened up a one-shot lead heading into the final round of the Omega European Masters but Tommy Fleetwood and Rory McIlroy were well in contention in Switzerland.

It's not only the Masters at Augusta that continues to be an elusive target for Rory McIlroy. The European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre keeps slipping from his grasp as well.

McIlroy added another award to his trophy cabinet as he was named the PGA Tour Player of the Year for a third time following a 2018-19 campaign capped by his FedExCup championship triumph.

DEREK LAWRENSON AT ST ANDREWS: Rory McIlroy rounded off a fortnight's golf in Britain with six straight birdies on Sunday and a pointed barb in the direction of the European Tour.

DEREK LAWRENSON - WORLD OF GOLF: JP Fitzgerald took two years off after being fired as Rory McIlroy's caddie in the summer of 2017.

Brooks Koepka has poked a little bit of fun at Rory McIlroy after being asked whether there is a rivalry between the two players. He doesn't consider McIlroy a rival after his poor form in majors.

Speaking ahead of his title defence at last week's CJ Cup in South Korea, world number one Koepka was asked about his rivalry with McIlroy and said: 'I've been out here for what, five years?

Every was suspended from the PGA Tour for violating its drug policy, even though he said that the ban was for cannabis, for which he claims to have a prescription on medical grounds.

Rory McIlroy believes America isn't taking the coronavirus seriously enough, amid rumours that contingency plans are being drawn up for the Masters to be played behind closed doors.

Rory McIlroy would rather postpone the Ryder Cup until 2021 than play it this year without fans. The first two major championships of the year - the Masters and the US PGA - have already been postponed.

The actor. 69. definitely will reprise his role as Dr. Peter Venkman Dan revealed on The Greg Hill Radio Show on Friday. And Sigourney Weaver, 70, and Annie Potts, 67, are also in.

Sane has been the Bundesliga side's No 1 target since last summer but a knee ligament injury picked up in August's Community Shield ended any hopes of a transfer.

The 30-year-old singer beamed while walking the red carpet with his five-year-old daughter Royalty on Sunday at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.

Meghan Markle, 38, opted for a low-key wardrobe for her royal tour of South Africa - and spent a modest £4,100 on new wardrobe items for the 10-day visit.

Proponents of its use claim it can cure insomnia, aches and anxiety - and now Brisbane company Fiji Kava is hoping to bring its benefits to Australia.

The Royal Navy's newest and greenest warship has arrived in its home port of Portsmouth Naval Base for the first time. HMS Tamar, is the fourth of five new patrol vessels built in Glasgow shipyards.

Joel McIlroy, who could face seven years in prison if convicted of assault a young policewoman, was granted $10,000 bail in the New South Wales Supreme Court on Monday.

Today marks the tenth day at Wimbledon, and with it came a particularly star-studded list of guests in the Royal Box, including politicians, actors and even a royal face.

A select number of the A-list stars managed to get seats in the royal box where Kate Middleton sat alongside Prince William, during the thrilling match that lasted almost five hours.

The Bundesliga giants have already started looking at transfer plans ahead of the summer window and both the RB Leipzig striker and Manchester City winger are firmly on their radar.

Bayern Munich's pursuit of Leroy Sane has been dealt a serious blow due to the coronavirus crisis, according to reports. The Bundesliga champions are long-term admirers of the Manchester City winger.

Michael Rummenigge, former Bayern Munich striker, believes Sane's long-term injury and the financial impact of the coronavirus could see City lower the price or cut him off as a free transfer.

Bayern Munich have been given a major boost in their pursuit of Leroy Sane following comments from his new agent that they have the 'prerequisites to win the Champions League'.

Crystal Palace are confident that Roy Hodgson will not be barred from managing on safety grounds amid the coronavirus crisis when the Premier League resumes.

EXCLUSIVE BY SAMI MOKBEL: There had been doubt over whether the 72-year-old would be forced to miss the remainder of the season, should it restart, due to Government guidelines.

On the eve of the Big Day, Elsa McAlonan looks at the best Royal Wedding beauty buys...

Nail obsessives have been seduced by a new type of manicure that research suggests leaves nails thin, brittle and peeling.

Having a bad hair day? Well, you’re not alone. Even the Duchess of Cambridge succumbed to an attack of the frizz last week while on the Diamond Jubilee tour.

Former Home & Away Actor Joel McIlroy is behind bars, accused of punching and shoulder-charging a female police officer in Surry Hills yesterday. 

Joel McIlroy, who could face seven years in prison if convicted of assault a young policewoman, was granted $10,000 bail in the New South Wales Supreme Court on Monday.

Princess Charlotte, four, enjoyed a day out at the polo with her family on Wednesday. Eagle-eyed royal watchers spotted she was carrying a little sequin unicorn Beanie Boo purse, which costs just £4.

The Duchess of Cambridge, 37, was the picture of elegance on Thursday as she arrived at Thomas's Battersea with William, 37, and their son George, six, for Charlotte's first day of school.

Kate Middleton, 37, made the confession while visiting the Aga Khan centre in London yesterday, and revealed all about her family's preferences when it comes to spicy foods.

Louise Heren, from the UK, spent time researching at Norland College - where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's nanny, Maria Borrallo, trained. She revealed the skills she learned to Mirror Online.

Royal fans are going wild online over the 'uncanny' resemblance between Princess Charlotte, 5, in her new birthday portraits and the Queen's niece Lady Sarah Chatto's, 55.

Since hanging up his boots in 2006, Roy Keane has transferred his ruthless style into life as a coach and pundit. Sportsmail recalls his most acidic put downs and one-liners in recent years.

Leroy Sane has missed the whole of the season so far after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in the Community Shield against Liverpool on August 4, 2019.