Rory McIlroy was safe off the tee on his first hole Thursday at The Open, but his putter let him down. Six years ago at Royal Portrush, McIlroy, who grew up less than an hour away, hit his opening shot out of bounds on the par-4 first on his way to a quadruple-bogey 8 and a 79.

A rocky start and return at the British Open, but it seems the drama is just beginning and it won't hold him back again.

Rory McIlroy shot 1 under Thursday at Royal Portrush, a better start than the first time he played the British Open at the Northern Ireland course near home.