At the end of a thrilling championship, Kevin Markham looks at the winners and losers on the closing day of the Open.

Rory McIlroy’s major successes are far from over, says Graeme McDowell, who has backed his friend to rebound from his Royal Portrush disappointment.

Shane Lowry survived alate-round wobble and some high-volume commentary from a giant TV screen to put himself in pole position at the halfway stage of The 148th Open as Rory McIlroy’s late charge to the make the cut came up agonisingly short.

A pre-Open Championship pep talk from coach Neil Manchip propelled a previously uneasy Lowrytowards his lowest opening round in a major and the business end of the leaderboard on a rollercoaster first day at Royal Portrush. But what would Rory McIlroy have given for Lowry’s 67 at The 148th Open?

As someone who has witnessed the insane levels of attention he draws at home tournaments, Rory’s performance yesterday didn’t really surprise me as I have often seen him struggle to cope with that huge expectation.

History seems to hang from every lamppost along the Causeway Coast. Drive through the villages and town lands dotted around Portrush this week and there’s scarcely a pole devoid of a Union Jack or an Ulster Banner.

Tiger Woods will favour quality over quantity in a bid to prolong his career after admitting he was emotionally and physically drained by his Masters triumph.

It was business as usual down on Portrush’s beautiful East Strand as the lifeguard looked out from her perch to the handful of dog walkers and paddlers on the beach.

Rory McIlroy insists he cannot let the pressure of winning at home get to him when he seeks a dream end to his five-year Major drought in the Open at Royal Portrush.

Gary Player may be 82-year-olds, but he seems to have the fitness of someone half his age.

Shane Lowry was left kicking himself after a disappointing opening round at The Open which he felt was entirely self-inflicted.

Carnoustie is more than just a golf course, writes Kevin Markham.

St Andrews has been announced as the host course for the 150th Open in 2021.

Not for the first time in his career, Rory McIlroy is taking the long view of his game as he searches for answers to the increasing distance between him and his last major championship victory.

Kevin Markham reflects on the Open at Royal Birkdale.

If nothing else, the 146th Open Championship will go down as the major of the meaningful caddie intervention.

Jordan Spieth and Matt Kuchar were still duking it out at Royal Birkdale yesterday evening as Rory McIlroy’s attention turned towards the PGA Championship and a final shot in 2017 of breaking a three-year major drought.

For someone who obviously knows how to get himself into contention in the biggest events, Kuchar has to hope his time will come soon, writes John McHenry.

Jordan Spieth staged one of the great rebounds in a final round at a major championship when defeating Matt Kuchar with a stunning performance over the last five holes at Royal Birkdale to land the 146th Open Championship.

The first thing you notice about the 2017 Open champion is that not much is really noticeable. Jordan Spieth is tall, but not too tall. And he’s a fresh-faced, good-looking lad. But Hollywood probably wouldn’t give him a second glance.

There was an Irish weather wipeout at Royal Birkdale last night as Shane Lowry and former Open champions Darren Clarke and Pádraig Harrington all crashed out in the torrential rain.

If ever you wanted to demonstrate to a young child just how quickly the fortunes in sport can turn around (once you have the right mindset), then all you have to do is look at how Rory McIlroy’s performance improved on Thursday and again yesterday, after the sharp rebuke from his caddy JP Fitzgerald, writes John McHenry.

Rory McIlroy moved under par heading into the weekend at The Open and reminded himself to stay positive over the coming 36 holes as he bids to chase down halfway leader Jordan Spieth at Royal Birkdale.

The year is 1973 and Jack Nicklaus is home alone. 

Matt Kuchar was delighted to be able to watch his Open Championship rivals battle for survival in the worst of the conditions late yesterday, safe in the knowledge he had come through his own trials unscathed at Royal Birkdale.

McIlroy remains in contention for a fifth major title at a windswept Royal Birkdale.

McIlroy admitted the putt he holed on the 18th green on Thursday gave him a much-needed boost.

I feel for Rory McIlroy right now. Each week, it seems like he is eating humble pie, writes John McHenry. 

Rory McIlroy staged a stirring Open Championship fightback at Royal Birkdale that will send him into today’s second round feeling he can get right among the leaders.

Shane Lowry admitted he was growing tired of feeling as disappointed as he was last night after an opening-round two-over-par 72 at Royal Birkdale.

There is never very much glory to be enjoyed at the outset of a major championship but after his first competitive round at Royal Birkdale since he lifted the Claret Jug in 2008, Pádraig Harrington had hoped for a better outcome than his opening 73.

To be sure, Sergio Garcia’s fifth major championship round as a major champion didn’t go quite as well as he would have hoped. 

It remains one of the most enduring and endearing images of recent Open Championship history.

World number one Dustin Johnson will have no distractions at Royal Birkdale this week as he seeks to avoid a third successive missed cut.

The hunger and ambition burns as strongly as ever for Rory McIlroy even if his prospects do not seem as bright as they did three years ago when he dominated the golfing universe.

Royal Birkdale’s reputation as the fairest of all The Open Championship challenges on the rotation is well deserved.

Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson has virtually written off a “terrible” season as he puts his family first this year.

Darren Clarke last night backed Rory McIlroy to put his poor form behind him and turn on the style at this week’s Open Championship.

“Every golf course in the world that has been awarded the dubious honour of the Royal Charter has two things in common: They have some of the best courses with some of the worst members.” — David Feherty

To many golfers, being touted as a potential major winner is the sort of endorsement they could do without. Yet far from feeling cursed after having his credentials boosted by Pádraig Harrington ahead of this week’s Open Championship, Shane Lowry seems perfectly at ease with the suggestion.

It is appropriate in these golden times for Spanish golf that the oldest major should be returning to the place where the godfather of the sport in that country first made his mark.

Jordan Spieth would understand why the bookmakers are finding it hard to name an outright favourite for this week’s 146th Open Championship.

McIlroy could prove the doubters wrong and emerge from his "slump" at any time, according to the Olympic champion.