Darren Clarke to get the honour of hitting first shot at The Open in Portrush

Darren Clarke will have the honour of striking the first ball at The 148th Open on Thursday as major championship golf returns to Royal Portrush for the first time since 1951.

The 2011 Open champion, the oldest major’s most senior winner when he lifted the Claret Jug at Royal St George’s at the age of 42, credited his greatest victory to his regular practice at Portrush and the local resident has been given the opportunity to lead the way over the Dunluce Links, having been given a 6:35am tee-time in the company of British Amateur champion and fellow Irishman James Sugrue and American Charley Hoffman.