Tournament host Rory McIlroy is staring at missing the cut for a second week in succession after posting his worst European round in five years on day one of the Irish Open.
The World No. 1 ranked player failed to record a single birdie in a shock round of a nine over par 80 on a day of constant wind and intermittent showers at Royal County Down.
McIlroy’s score left the four-time Major Champion with the embarrassment of being last among the morning starters while fellow PGA Championship and US Open winner Martin Kaymer, who played alongside McIlroy, faired only marginally better with a round of an eight over par 79.
McIlroy’s score is his poorest in Europe since a similar score of 80 on day two of the 2010 Open Championship at St. Andrews.
World No. 1 Rory McIlroy cuts a lone figure on route to just one of four rounds in the 80s in his pro career. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
“Off the tee I felt my game was okay and I put myself in positions but then as I got closer to the greens, the worst it got,” said McIlroy.
“I didn’t hit very many good iron shots and then from there my putting wasn’t that good with my speed off and I sort of just lost concentration on the greens.
“So nothing went right and I was trying hard to birdie the last to try and break 80 but it just didn’t quite happen.”
McIlroy arrived home to Northern Ireland having missed the cut in last week’s Tour flagship event at Wentworth.
But while he was the defending champion last week, McIlroy’s Irish Open record is poor having missed the cut the previous two years.
McIlroy first contested the Irish Open in 2005 as a then 16-year old and shooting a second round 81 to sit out the weekend rounds.
World No. 1 Rory McIlroy strong off the tees but the closer he got to the greens, the worse he played. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
His opening Royal County Down round was a mix of five outward bogeys, including four in succession from his sixth hole, and four dropped shots over his inward nine.
“I have just got to go out there tomorrow and try my best and try and claw my way back into inside the cut-off line and back into this tournament,” he said.
“It’s disappointing also for the large crowds out there who followed us around this morning as I wanted to play well not just for myself but all who were supporting us.
“I am not sure what score I am going to need to get into the weekend but I would love to be here for all four rounds.
“I hope my tournament is salvageable and that will be my goal starting off tomorrow and try to make some early birdies, and my first birdie of the tournament at some point.”
England’s Danny Willett, who was a team-mate of McIlroy’s in the 2007 GB & I Walker Cup side that went down to a USA Team at Royal County Down, carded a two under par 69 to share the clubhouse lead with Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen.
American Rickie Fowler, who has returned to Royal County Down for a first time since a member of the victorious USA Walker Cup team, carded a very respectable level par 71.
