Smylie Kaufman wasn't the only one cursing at Royal Portrush on Friday, but he still drew an apology from Mike Tirico.

Royal Portrush delivered plenty of obstacles for the best golfers in the world as The Open Championship commenced, and there should be no doubt the difficult lies and strong winds

At the time, they could not have known, but they were about to create what would become the only golf course outside Great Britain to host The Open Championship not once, but three times. As we approach the 153rd Open Championship,

Shane Lowry unleashing F-bomb rants during golf tournaments is certainly nothing new. He did it at this year's PGA Championship. He did it at last year's British Open. He, well, you get the point. But what happened on Friday was still a bit shocking from the Irishman.

Northern Irishman Darren Clarke, the 2012 Open champion who is a longtime Portrush member, was speaking generally of the course but he might as well have been speaking specifically of Calamity Corner when he said, “There’s no place like it. It’s brutal and beautiful – often at the same time.”

It’s like you’re telling stories over a beer, reflecting on the day at the pub. There’s an intimacy and loyalty."

McIlroy, playing with Justin Thomas and Tommy Fleetwood, is one of the early starters in Friday’s second round and sits just three shots behind the leaders overnight, with world No 1 Scottie Scheffler,

Golf nourishes itself with low-hanging narratives, those saccharine, feel-good tales about lives redeemed or neighborhoods rejuvenated thanks to the royal and ancient game.