
A brilliant opening birdie from Scottie Scheffler doused the fire in Rory McIlroy’s partisan home crowd as the unflappable world number one began what was expected to be a procession to his first Open title.
The American, who did not drop a shot on Saturday in establishing a four-stroke lead, would have heard the chants of ‘Rory, Rory, Rory’ as his rival strode off the first tee in the group ahead.