Rory McIlroy fears legalising conventional gambling in the US may increase the number of fan heckling from outside the ropes at Tour events.

A month after insisting it remained “some distance” from being able to stage the Open in the North for the first time since 1951, the R&A is set to announce Royal Portrush will host the championship in 2019.

American Rickie Fowler today firmly outshone fellow young star Rory McIlroy but still found an Irish golfer barring his way to Open Championship glory.