Defending champion Rory McIlroy made a solid start to the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am as Japan’s Ryo Hisatsune set the early pace with a 10-under 62.
Hisatsune, 23, was six under at the turn and concluded a stunning performance with four more birdies on the back nine on the PGA Tour’s first signature event of the season.
Northern Ireland’s McIlroy is still in contention six shots back after carding a four-under 68 in California.
But it was a case of what might have been for McIlroy, who opened with consecutive birdies on the 10th and 11th holes and another on the 17th at Spyglass Hill, with the highlight of his front nine coming when he chipped out of a greenside bunker on the 14th for an eagle.
However, his progress was checked after the turn with double bogeys at the two par-three holes – the third and the fifth – when his putter ran cold.
While the world number two picked up shots on the second, fourth and ninth, he has ground to make up in Friday’s second round, although not as much as the man directly above him in the rankings, Scottie Scheffler.
The American, who has not finished outside a top 10 place since last year’s Player’s Championship, struggled to a disappointing even par 72.
With the opening two rounds of the event split across two courses, Scheffler’s friend and compatriot Sam Burns fared much better at Pebble Beach golf links, to end the day in second on nine under alongside Keegan Bradley.
Chris Gotterup, a two-time winner already this season, began with six successive birdies and is well placed at eight under along with Tony Finau and Patrick Rodgers.
England’s Matt Fitzpatrick is at six under and Tommy Fleetwood and Ireland’s Shane Lowry made solid starts to sit at five under with Englishman Harry Hall one further back.
With a $20m (£14.7m) purse available, 18 of the top 20 players in the world are competing in the 80-man field, with Pebble Beach hosting Saturday and Sunday’s third and fourth rounds.
I HAD negotiated the Giant’s Grave, overcome the Causeway and even conquered the Himalayas – but now Calamity Corner was awaiting me.
Would it live up to its name, as had the other three treacherous golf holes on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland, where I was following in the footsteps of the golfing gods.
Now it was my chance to play it — and it turned out to be far from a calamity.
Finding the green with my tee shot was a good start, and two putts later, after help from our brilliant caddie Jamie, I had made par.
It was my most memorable par ever and was only topped by a birdie on the beachside fifth.
After such a fantastic afternoon, there was only one way to mark the occasion — with the Calamity Corner cocktail at the hotel bar.
After such a fantastic afternoon, there was only one way to mark the occasion — with the Calamity Corner cocktail at the hotel bar
I was staying at the 5-star Dunluce Lodge, set alongside the fourth fairway and, like the course, it is named after the castle ruins nearby.
Opening in early 2025, the hotel’s 35 rooms are all suites, while there is also a spa and a putting green for practice.
And the hotel can count former world No1 Rory McIlroy among its guests.
Its restaurant highlights Irish produce, with dishes such as Carlingford oysters and seared Thornhill duck.
The lodge also has a great whiskey collection, including the exceedingly rare 46-year-old single malt from nearby Bushmills distillery.
The following morning, fuelled by brilliant memories of Royal Portrush and a full Irish breakfast, I was ready to tackle my next course: Castlerock.
A 25-minute drive from my hotel, the course was another beautiful layout in an area blessed with many, including Portstewart and Bushfoot.
The bar at Dunluce Lodge which has a spectacular whiskey collection including Bushmills exceedingly rare 46-year-old single maltThe lodge’s restaurant highlights Irish produce – and does a great full Irish breakfast tooCredit: Unknown
Set alongside the River Bann, which is visible on several holes, the venue held a European Tour event in 2023 and has a second course which can be played for £60.
Three holes of Castlerock’s Mussenden Links run alongside the railway, including the tricky fourth.
Later in the round, the 16th and 17th offer the best views across to Donegal.
Guinness flowed
After the golf, I returned to Portrush to visit the famous Harbour Bar, a pub frequented by some of the world’s best players during The Open.
Set over three floors, the boozer’s food options include burgers for £15 and half rotisserie chickens for £20.
When I went, it had live music playing late into the evening as the Guinness flowed and golfers from across the globe shared stories.
I also enjoyed a pint of the black stuff on the first day of my break, at the Culloden Estate in the suburbs of Belfast.
The Guinness flowed and golfers from across the globe shared stories
The hotel houses a spa and swimming pool alongside three restaurants, while the mocktail on arrival and cupcakes in the room were nice touches.
I chose its Cultra Bar for dinner where mains included daube of Irish beef or pork chop with black pudding, both for £28.
The hotel was ten minutes from my first round at Holywood, Rory McIlroy’s home course and where he learned the game.
Rounds cost £60, with the course set in the hills above Belfast and offering views across the Lough, particularly on the challenging back-nine holes.
McIlroy gives a thumbs up as he poses on the bench at the 6th tee in 2025Credit: APSun man Chris Slack follows in the footsteps of golfing god Rory by posing on the same benchCredit: SuppliedChris poses opposite the famous clubhouse at Royal Portrush before his roundCredit: Supplied
Off the course, the clubhouse has an area dedicated to Rory’s Major triumphs, including replica trophies, alongside Ryder Cup memorabilia.
But I had teed off early to allow myself time to visit another of Belfast’s most popular attractions.
The Titanic Experience, yards from where the doomed liner first launched, tells the story of the ship’s construction, sinking and discovery.
Artefacts on display include one of the life jackets — of which only 12 still exist — and the violin played by a member of the band as the ship went down.
The exhibition was a fascinating addition to a break packed with an amazing mix of great golf, Irish hospitality and spectacular food.
It was a trip that was far from a calamity — and well above par.
The challenging back nine at Holywood GC offers great views across to the Belfast LoughA comfortable room at the Culloden Estate in the suburbs of BelfastCredit: Supplied
