McILROY WOE IN FLORIDA

RORY McILROY’S Masters preparations suffered another blow as he struggled to an opening 74 on his maiden appearance in the Valspar Championship. McIlroy’s only birdie came courtesy of holing a bunker shot on the seventh, while two bogeys and a clumsy double-bogey seven on the fifth left him three over par. McIlroy told a pre-tournament press conference at Innisbrook that he was ‘totally ready’ for the Masters and felt he would have a good chance of the victory he needs at Augusta National to complete the career grand slam if the first major of the year got under way this week. But his performance yesterday told a somewhat different story. Shane Lowry is best of the Irish contenders, signing for a level-par 71, with Graeme McDowell two over. Seamus Power and Pádraig Harrington both finished on five over. Tiger Woods recorded a battling 70, leaving him only three shots off Canadian leader Corey Conners.