The Rory McIlroy Royal Portrush 61 has been billed as one of the ‘greatest rounds of golf ever played’ – not only did he smash the course record by THREE shots, but he was also aged just 16.
So, with the 153rd Open Championship heading back to Northern Ireland and the scene of the famous Rory McIlroy Portrush 61 course record, we take a look at the FULL STORY behind the round of a lifetime.
The Rory McIlroy Portrush Course Record 61 – The Full Story and Scorecard ⛳
Rewind back to 2005, when the current world number two Rory McIlroy was only 16 and playing as an amateur off a handicap of +4.
Rory was in action in the North Of Ireland Championship at Royal Portrush – which is one of the big amateur golf events in the country.
Only the week prior to this event, McIlroy had also been asked to play in the Scottish Open, which that year was won by South Africa’s Tim Clark at Loch Lomond.
However, Rory carded two opening rounds of 74-76 and missed the cut by a massive 10 shots.
It was still off to Portrush though and having won both the West Of Ireland and Irish Close titles earlier that year (2005), the McIlroy name was starting to buzz around the amateur circuit.
Before the event, the players had to deal with 36 holes of stroke play – which consisted of 18 at the Championship Course and 18 at the Valley Course.
McIlroy carded a 71 at the Valley, which was even par.
Then it was onto the Championship Course – the start of the famous Rory McIlroy Portrush course record 61.
Rory McIlroy’s Portrush Course Record Could Have Been Better – If He’d Holed An Easy Putt On The First 🏌️
However, things actually didn’t start too well for Rory – missing a putt on the par-4 first that was very doable.
He still managed par though – and at this stage he wasn’t to know what was about to happen.
The good news is McIlroy quickly recovered from that miss on the par-5 second – making birdie after a fine 6-iron to the green.
A birdie at the shorter 6th hole (par 3) and a par at the 9th (par 5) saw Rory finish the front nine in just 33.
Rory Ended The Front Nine -3 After Three Birdies
This made him -3 at the turn and well-and-truly ON for the course record.
Which is worth remembering at this point – the Dunluce course record was held at this point by the now two-time Open golf winner Padraig Harrington (65, -7).
Before Randal Evans improved on that in 2002 with a 64.
And McIlroy couldn’t have started the back nine any better – with a cracking EAGLE at the par 5 10th.
He was now -5 thru 10 and heading to the easiest hole on the course – the par 3 11th (stroke index 18).
On the 11th Rory fired his tee-shot onto the green and holed for birdie – making him now -6 after 11.
McIlroy carded two more pars on the 12th and 13th holes – and was now heading to a hole (14th) known as ‘Calamity Corner’ – which is the famous long par 3 (which is not today’s 16th hole at Portrush with the re-design).
This hole played at 215 yards that day – Rory smashed a 4-iron off the tee to eight feet away and made the birdie putt.
Wow – after 14 holes young McIlroy was now -7 after 14.
Word Was Spreading About The Possible Rory McIlroy Portrush Course Record 🏌️
It was at this point of the round that word of the Rory McIlroy Portrush course record was spreading – with a big crowd building up of over 200 people to cheer him on.
The 15th and 16th holes saw two more remarkable birdies – making him -9 after 16.
At this stage Rory said in an interview after making the course record.
“I knew the record was 64.”
“Once I got to -9, I thought if I could par the remaining two and set the new record that would be pretty special.”
Just two holes to go and barring any mishaps – the record was on with only two pars needed.
However, Rory’s round got even better here after another birdie on the par 5 17th – which came after a huge drive, short iron to the dance floor and two putts.
Making him -10 with just the 18th to play.
This saw another faultless drive – leaving an 8-iron to the green, which Rory hit to around 20 feet.
He said “I just wanted to two-putt it” he said later. “I didn’t care what the score was, I just wanted the course record.”
But he only holed it – ending on yet another birdie and his ninth on the card – which also meant he had birdied ALL of the last FIVE holes.
Record Smashed By THREE Shots With Rory McIlroy Carding a Portrush Course Record 61 🏌️
This ended his back nine – coming in with 28 – meaning a remarkable new Portrush course record score of 61 and -11.
McIlroy had somehow played the final 10 holes at Portrush in -9 and in the process SMASHED the course record by THREE SHOTS.
Oh, it was also Rory’s first-ever ‘Bogey-Free’ round.
Of course, after that amazing round Rory won the qualifying by five shots. However, later lost in the knockout stages to Andrew Pitcher 3&1.
Since that famous day in 2005, the Royal Portrush course has changed a fair bit.
With 2019 Open winner Shane Lowry now holding the Portrush course record of 63 at the newer layout.
However, the Rory McIlroy Portrush course record will never be forgotten and probably NEVER be bettered – even on the new track.
With many still referring to this display – don’t forget aged just 16 – as one of the greatest rounds of golf EVER played.
Rory McIlroy Portrush Course Record 61 Scorecard in 2005 🏌️
Rory McIlroy Portrush 61 – The Stats That Matter 🏌️📊
- Pars: 8
- Birdies: 9
- Eagles: 1
- Final Score: 61
- Par: -11
How Many Golf Majors Has Rory McIlroy Won? 🥇
Since that remarkable Rory McIlroy Portrush course record 61, the Northern Irish golfer has gone onto become one of the best the modern era has seen.
He’s the current world number two player behind Scottie Scheffler, but has been at the summit of the rankings in the past.
In terms of the golf majors – Rory has won them ALL.
He completed golf’s major grand slam back earlier in 2025 when winning the Masters at Augusta – with the Green Jacket the only one of the four majors he hadn’t won till that point.
Prior to that McIlroy had won two PGA Championships (2012 and 2014), the US Open in 2011 and the Open Championship in 2014.
Rory McIlroy’s Major Wins 🏆
- Masters – 2025
- PGA Championship – 2012 and 2014
- US Open – 2011
- Open Championship – 2014
Heading into the 2025 Open at Portrush – Rory McIlroy will start the tournament as the 7/1 second favourite with the best golf betting sites in the UK. With only Scottie Scheffler ahead of him in the market.
The pair will be chasing the Open golf prize money purse of $17m, with the winner banking $3.1m
