This image of 16 year old Rory McIlroy leaving the 18th green at Royal Portrush Golf Club in 2005 was the most viewed image on my site in 2019.

Rory birdied this hole to score 61 to break the record for the course. He shot 33 on the front nine and 28 on the back nine and had 26 putts.

The course layout was changed for the 2019 Open - 2 new holes were added with the old 17th and 18th being replaced - so a new record exists for the new course layout. Rory's record will therefore never be beaten.

Rory McIlroy leaves the green after beating the course record at Royal Portrush during the qualifying round of the 2005 North of Ireland Amateur Championship - IMG_1478-e3Sixteen year old Rory McIlroy on the 18th green at Royal Portrush during the qualifying round of the 2005 North of Ireland Amateur Open Championship after breaking the course record with a round of 61. McIlroy scored 33 out and 28 back and had 26 putts.