RORY McIlroy will partner Ryder Cup team-mates Jon Rahm and Justin Rose in the first two rounds of the 151st Open Championship.

McIlroy lifted the Claret Jug the last time the Open was staged at Royal Liverpool in 2014 and won the US PGA Championship a month later, but has not tasted victory in any major since.

The 34-year-old comes into the week on the back of victory in the Genesis Scottish Open and will get his bid for a fifth major under way at 2.59pm on Thursday alongside Masters champion Rahm and former US Open winner Rose.

Australia’s Cameron Smith, who overhauled McIlroy at St Andrews last year, begins his title defence at 9.58am alongside US Open champion Wyndham Clark and Olympic gold medallist Xander Schauffele.

Local favourite Tommy Fleetwood, world number one Scottie Scheffler and Australia’s Adam Scott tee off 11 minutes earlier, while brothers Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick start at 9.03am and 11.36am respectively.

Hoylake member Matthew Jordan had already been announced as hitting the first tee shot at 6.35am and will have Scotland’s Richie Ramsay and South Africa’s Branden Grace for company.

The final group of Hurly Long, Seungsu Han and Marco Penge have to wait until 4.16pm to get their championship started.