Rory McIlroy’s hopes of putting himself in contention for another shot at major glory fell away as he shot an opening round of 78 at The Open.
The Northern Irishman bogied his opening hole of the tournament at Royal Troon and while he bounced back with a birdie at the third, that proved to be his only one of the day.
Five dropped shots in the space of four holes around the turn derailed the round in dreary, tough conditions and McIlroy could not salvage it, as he walked off the course at seven-over, ten shots off clubhouse leader Justin Thomas.
McIlroy had insisted he was in a “really good spot” earlier in the week, as he prepared for only his second tournament since letting a huge chance to win the US Open slip away last month. Two missed putts from short distance in the closing three holes allowed Bryson DeChambeau to snatch victory at Pinehurst.
The Open represents McIlroy’s final opportunity this year to end a decade-long major drought, but he now faces a battle just to make it through to the weekend. He has not missed the cut at an Open since an emotional week at Royal Portrush in 2019, one of two occasions he has headed home on Friday night.
“I was actually surprised how difficult I felt like the back nine played,” he said.
“The conditions are very difficult in a wind that we haven't seen so far this week. I guess when that happens it starts to present different options and you start to think about maybe hitting a few clubs that you haven't hit in practice.”
On whether he is out of contention already, McIlroy said: “All I need to focus on is tomorrow and try to make the cut. That’s all I can focus on."
Rory McIlroy finds bunker twice to makes mess of Postage Stamp 😲 pic.twitter.com/I1KXGEf22L
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) July 18, 2024
As the rain fell early on Thursday at Royal Troon, McIlroy made a frustrating start as he left his second shot short on the first hole and could not get up-and-down for par. He responded well, though, sticking his approach to just a few feet on the third and rolling in the birdie putt to erase the damage.
McIlroy could not take advantage of either par five on the front nine, and the famous Postage Stamp then started a disastrous run of holes. He found the bunker on the par three, playing just 120 yards, and needed two attempts to get out as he made a double bogey.
Another dropped shot followed, as McIlroy began his back nine, and he then found the railway track to the right of the 11th hole after a wild tee shot. Playing three off the tee, he was forced to get up and down from the back of the green just to make a double bogey, leaving him five-over for his round.
A nine-foot par putt was much-needed on the 14th but there was more trouble off the tee on the following hole. McIlroy went from thick rough to a greenside bunker, and this time the putter did not rescue him as another shot slipped away.
McIlroy found the fairway on the par-five 16th, playing as the easiest hole on the course and the only one under par. He flared his second shot out to the right, though, as the wind continued to blow. A clumsy pitch meant 30 feet for a second birdie of the day, an outside chance he could not take.
Only a sensational bunker shot prevented another dropped shot on 17, but McIlroy could only pitch out after his drive found more sand on the final hole. A lovely third shot left him seven feet for a closing par, that putt drifting by to sum up an ugly day’s work.
