Rory McIlroy put himself through water torture on the opening day of the Kolon Korea Open.
The reigning U.S. Open champion took a double bogey in finding water at the 11th hole before he also found water again in walking off with a bogey on the 18 in a round of a three under par 69 on the Woo Jeong Hills Country Club.
The stars of the 2011 Korea Open - Kyungtae Kim of Korea, Rory Mcilroy, Y.E.Yang, Rickie Fowler and Sengyul No. (Photo - thanks to One Asia Tour).
It left McIlroy trailing just one stroke behind the leading duo of American Rickie Fowler and pre-tournament favourite Y. E. Yang.
Fowler, on a first visit to Korea, had six birdies in his round while Yang, who won the event in 2006 and last year, also posted six birdies and two bogeys.
McIlroy was third in the tournament two years ago and is looking to win for a first time on the Asian continent.
He was three under par through eight holes before the misadventure over the closing nine holes.
“It was a bad shot in taking the double at 11 and the bogey at 18 came when I tried to cut the corner over the lake and fell just short of the green,” said McIlroy.
“I felt like I played nicely and started nicely and I was three under nine holes, but had a bad couple of holes on the back nine at 10 and 11 with a bogey and double bogey.
“I did well from there to birdie four of the next six holes to get back to four-under-par, but then I was disappointed to bogey the last.
“But overall, it is a good start and something to build on. The shot on 11 was just a bad shot, while on 18 the wind just grabbed it. I was aggressive, but I want to play aggressive.”
