For a second occasion in eight years Rickie Fowler upstaged Rory McIroy in virtually the current World No. 1s back yard.
Fowler and McIlroy are competing alongside each other in the opening two rounds of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Royal County Down.
But while McIlroy likens the links gem as his own private links practice arena, the four-time Major winner and this week’s tournament host was left red-faced in posting a shock nine over par 80 on day one of the Euro 2.5m event.
It is McIlroy’s highest regular European Tour score since a similar score of 80 on day two of the 2010 Open Championship at St. Andrews where McIlroy will defend the famed Claret Jug starting on July 16th.
It was also McIlroy’s fourth score in the 80s since turning professional in late 2007 while it was the first occasion since the second round of 2012 PGA Tour’s Memorial event in Ohio McIlroy has played a round without one single birdie.
Visiting American Rickie Fowler again finishes in front of Rory McIlroy eight years after last competing at Royal County Down. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
Fowler was last at Royal County Down as a member of the 2007 USA Walker Cup side and with team-mates such as Well Simpson, Dustin Johnson, Billy Horschel, Kyle Stanley and Chris Kirk winner of last week’s Crowne Plaza Colonial event in Texas.
The USA team led 10-6 going into the Sunday Afternoon Singles and managed to hold on to win by a point.
Fowler faced McIlroy, and then World No. 1 ranked amateur, just once and teaming with Horschel to defeat McIlroy and GB& I partner Jonathon Caldwell in the Saturday Foursomes.
Fowler got his return to Northern Ireland off to a flyer with two birdies on route to a level par 71 and nine shots fewer than McIlroy.
“It was a good solid start, birdied the first two holes but unfortunately I three-putted my third for par but overall played fairly solid,” he said to reporters.
“But it was tough out there and you just had to be patient what with the wind coming up and laying down, then getting some sunshine, a bit of rain here and there.
“So it was definitely interesting out there at times.”
And while Fowler and McIlroy were the fiercest of rivals in 2007 they have since grown to become close friends, and as evident with Fowler, as the reigning Players champion, expressing some sympathy for McIlroy.
“It was tough to see and you don’t want to see someone struggle, and it was not the start he was looking for this week,” said Fowler also to reporters.
“But that’s golf. We’ve all been through it, and I’m sure we’ll go out and have some fun, and hopefully feed off each other tomorrow.”
