Eilidh Barbour introduces the best action from Royal Portrush as the world's elite golfers attempt to master the notoriously tough links course on County Antrim's north coast.Northern Ireland's four-time Major winner Rory McIlroy began the 148th Open Championship as one of the tournament favourites, having set a course record of 61 at Royal Portrush when he was only 16.However, American golfers have won nine of the past ten Major championships, with the exception being Francesco Molinari's historic triumph at The Open in Carnoustie last year.

The winner of golf's oldest major and one of world sport's iconic trophies, the Claret Jug, is decided at the fearsome Royal Portrush Dunluce Links in Northern Ireland.The north coast course is so taxing that only two players finished under par when The Open was last held there, in 1951. Who will rise to the challenge, as Italian Francesco Molinari did at Carnoustie last year when he defied blustery conditions and pressure from Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Justin Rose to secure his maiden Major title with a clinical bogey-free final round?

The best of the action from Royal St George's as the world's elite male golfers begin their quest to win the oldest major and one of sport's iconic trophies, the Claret Jug.