Shane Lowry shines as Rory McIlroy struggles on day one of The Open Championship

Lowry is one shot behind the overnight leader.

In contrast, Rory McIlroy struggled, finishing with a devastating round of +7.

Lowry, the 2019 Open Championship winner, teed off at 2:59 PM alongside LIV Tour member Cameron Smith and 2022 US Open winner Matt Fitzpatrick.

The damp and breezy conditions on Thursday suited Lowry, particularly during the first four holes, which he played in -1.

The green speed on the 7,300-yard, par-71 layout was 10.7, and Lowry made two remarkable putts on the seventh and the famous Postage Stamp eighth hole, leading to an impressive front nine score of -3. Lowry's back nine was equally crucial as he played holes 10 and 11 in -1.

Despite the challenges faced by the 157-strong field, Lowry managed to play 17 holes without a mistake. His round concluded with a sensational nine-iron shot from 177 yards on the 18th, followed by a successful putt, resulting in a bogey-free round of -5.

The day began early at 6:35 AM with a tribute to long-time announcer Ivor Robson, followed by Justin Leonard starting the action.

One of the notable morning groups included 2014 Open Championship winner Rory McIlroy, who teed off at 10:09 AM with Max Homa and Tyrrell Hatton.

McIlroy, competing in his first major since disappointingly losing the US Open on the final few holes, started poorly with a bogey on the first hole.

He managed to return to level par with an impressive wedge shot from 116 yards on the third hole but was hindered by a double bogey on the eighth.

McIlroy's struggles continued on the back nine, particularly on holes 10 and 11, where he played +3.

He finished his round with bogeys on the 15th and 18th, resulting in a round of 78 (+7).

"I was sort of struggling to hole the ball in that wind a little bit, and that got me," McIlroy said.

Currently tied for 129th, McIlroy will begin his Friday round at 3:10 PM. "I need to do a better job in those conditions, play better, and try to shoot something under par to at least be here for the weekend," he added.

Justin Thomas also featured in Thursday’s early coverage, playing the front nine in -3 and finishing with birdies on the 17th and 18th to post a round of -3.

Justin Rose, who had to qualify for this year’s Open, started strong with a round of 69 (-2).

Xander Schauffele, recently crowned PGA Championship winner, played in the afternoon leading group with Tiger Woods and Patrick Cantlay, scoring birdies on the challenging fifth and 11th holes to end the day at -2.

Seventeen players finished the day under par, with five-time major champion Brooks Koepka's opening round of -1 highlighted by four consecutive birdies from holes four to seven.

World number one Scottie Scheffler, playing his first tournament in three weeks, overcame a bogey on the first hole to finish with a birdie and a round of -1 (70).

Two-time Open Championship winner Padraig Harrington had a tough start but recovered to play the back nine in -1, posting a round of +1.

McIlroy was not the only player to struggle; Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland, Tommy Fleetwood, and Bryson DeChambeau collectively shot +18.

Following his round, McIlroy tried to make sense of what had been a deeply disappointing day.

"I felt okay, I've come in here playing really well, I played well at The Renaissance (Scottish Open) last week," McIlroy said.

"I think if anything it was more that the conditions got the better of me - those crosswinds going out were tough.

"I missed the green at the postage stamp there and left it in the bunker and made a five.

"Once we turned onto that back nine the left-to-right winds, I was sort of struggling to hold the ball on that wind there. That kind of got me."

It was definitely tricky, it was difficult. You plan, play your practice rounds and try and come up with a strategy that you think is going to get you around the golf course.

"When the wind is like that, other options present themselves and you start to second-guess yourself a little bit. Conditions were tough on that back nine. I just didn't do a good enough job to adapt to them today…

"The conditions are going to be pretty similar again tomorrow, so I have to do a better job in those conditions.

"I need to go out there and play better and try to shoot something under par. At least be here for the weekend, if not try and put myself up the leaderboard a bit more and feel like I have half a chance."