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Well, that wasn’t in the script.

Playing in front of a home crowd, Rory McIlroy endured a shocking start to this year’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush.

A quadruple-bogey EIGHT!

After hitting his tee shot out of bounds, the four-time major
champion had to play three off the tee, finding the deep rough. He then
had to take an unplayable near the green before missing a five-foot putt
for a seven.

• Darren Clarke: The morning that could never have been

• Jordan Spieth makes big change on eve of Open

He dropped another shot at the third before repairing some of the damage with birdies at the seventh and ninth.

However, two doubles in his final three holes compounded a thoroughly miserable day.

Rory Nightmare Start

Afterwards, McIlroy said: “It was a rough start but I felt like I
showed some good resilience after that. I think I played the next 13 or
14 holes at two-under-par.

“What I’m disappointed about is I undid all that great work the last few holes.

• Duval sets unwanted record at Portrush

“I
definitely think if I can put the ball in the fairway tomorrow I can
shoot a good enough score to be around for the weekend.

• ‘Beef’ full of praise for Robert MacIntyre

“Obviously I’m
pretty sure anyone starting with a 79 in this golf tournament doesn’t
think about winning at this point. But I think I can go out there and
shoot something in the mid-60s, be around for the weekend, and then try
to play good from there.


author headshot

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor

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