Rory McIlroy's homecoming at The Open Championship turned sour as the Northern Irish golf star failed to deliver on the grand stage at Royal Troon. The four-time major champion, who hadn't played competitive golf in Britain for nearly a year, struggled to find his rhythm in challenging conditions.
A Disappointing Start
The world number two carded an opening-round 73, leaving him eight shots behind early leader Justin Thomas. McIlroy's usually reliable driver betrayed him, with several wayward tee shots costing him dearly on the links course.
Technical Troubles Surface
"It's frustrating," McIlroy admitted after his round. "I felt prepared coming in, but the wind and these fairways expose any slight miss. I need to find something quickly if I'm to be here for the weekend."
The Weight of Expectation
Playing before passionate home crowds for the first time since last year's Scottish Open, McIlroy appeared to feel the pressure. His last major victory remains the 2014 PGA Championship, creating increasing scrutiny with each passing year.
Course Conditions Bite Back
Royal Troon's notorious back nine, playing into the wind, proved particularly troublesome. The 34-year-old dropped three shots between holes 11-16, including a costly double-bogey at the par-4 13th after finding gorse off the tee.
Road to Redemption?
With three rounds remaining, McIlroy faces an uphill battle to contend. However, his ability to produce spectacular comebacks means few are writing off the 2014 Open champion just yet.
Key stats from McIlroy's round:
- Only 50% of fairways hit
- Just 8 of 18 greens in regulation
- 31 putts on tricky greens
The tournament continues tomorrow with McIlroy needing a significant improvement to avoid missing the cut in back-to-back majors after his US Open disappointment.
