Rory McIlroy climbed the leaderboard Saturday at the 2025 Open Championship thanks in large part to an electric eagle putt on the par-five 12th.

While Rory McIlroy’s Northern Ireland homecoming won’t have the fairytale finish of winning a second Claret Jug at Royal Portrush, the atmosphere surrounding his return was amongst the highlights of an unforgettable Open Championship.

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Rory McIlroy gave the home crowds exactly what they craved on Saturday: He used the traditional third-round “moving day’’ to make a move up the leaderboard. McIlroy, who began the day at 3-under par, seven shots behind leader Scottie Scheffler, activated the huge Portrush crowds with a third-round 5-under-par 66.

Rory McIlroy shot 1-under 70 in the first round of the British Open at Royal Portrush that is also serving as a homecoming for the Northern Irish star.

Rory McIlroy stared at his card behind the 18th green and smiled the smile of a golfer who knew he’d had a day to remember at the British Open.

Rory McIlroy was audibly frustrated by a wayward effort that all-but ended his hopes of winning The Open. McIlroy returned to the Royal Portrush Golf Club for Sunday’s final round eight

Rory McIlroy had stalled a bit after his first few holes in Round 3 of The Open Championship. How's a 56-footer for eagle to get yourself -- and Royal Portrush -- going?