Golf LIVE: Open start time changed as PGA Tour star banned after angry outburst

All the attention at Royal Portrush has been turned to the opening tee, where Shane Lowry has just got underway alongside Scottie Scheffler.

A loud roar explodes as Lowry finds the fairway with ease, with Scheffler and Collin Morikawa going wide left.

Meanwhile, Matt Fitzpatrick has made a barnstorming start with an eagle on the second and take his share of the lead.

Tom McKibbin and Nicolai Hojgaard have dropped off and two LIV Golf veterans Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood are in the lead!

Westwood joined as leader after superbly navigating the tricky fifth hole for a birdie.

McKibbin and Hojgaard both make double-bogey sixes at the par-four 11th.

Nicolai Hojgaard has been joined by Tom McKibbin, Jacob Skov Olesen and Phil Mickelson for the lead at two under.

Mickelson had a chance to eagle and take the sole lead, but was forced to settle for birdie.

While McKibbin and Hojgaard are in trouble on the 11th after two stray tee shots, both heading wide right and have a job to even find their balls in the long rough.

Rory McIlroy plays with Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Thomas at 3.10pm in one of the the later group to go out.

Scottie Scheffler, on the opposite side of the draw alongside Collin Morikawa and Shane Lowry, gets underway at 10.09am.

Defending champion Xander Schauffele partners with US Open champion JJ Spaun and Jon Rahm at 9.58am.

Nicolai Hojgaard leads the way after two hours of play, currently two under par after eight.

However, he had a chance to extend his lead. The Dane and Tom McKibbin were unable to convert their birdie chances at the eighth after excellent approaches.

PGA Tour star Wyndham Clark has reportedly been banned from Oakmont after allegedly smashing a locker at the US Open.

The 2023 champion missed the cut this year and photos later emerged of damage that was said to be caused by the American.

Golf Digest claimed to have obtained a letter sent by Oakmont to its members in which it wrote: "Following multiple discussions with the USGA and the OCC board, a decision has been made that Mr Clark will no longer be permitted on OCC property.

"Reinstatement would be contingent upon Mr Clark fulfilling a number of specific conditions, including full repayment for damages, a meaningful contribution to a charity of the board's choosing, and the successful completion of counselling and/or anger management sessions."

R&A chief Mark Darbon confirmed that start times for the third round of the Open will be changed to accommodate the Portrush Sons of Ulster.

The 153rd edition of the tournament will begin 15 minutes earlier than scheduled, as 70 bands and 2,000 people will descend on the town.

Darbon said at a press conference: "We recognise that when we bring The Open Championship to town, we are a guest in the community in which we operate.

"On many occasions, there are concurrent events that take place around the action that we are very focused on here, within the rules of the venue.

"We are making a slight tweak to tee times to try and finish - it's not dramatic, maybe 15 minutes or so earlier."

Hello and welcome to Express Sport's live golf coverage, where we will be bringing you all the latest news, scores and updates from the first day of the Open.