Mcilroy’s homecoming a dud
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — The opening tee shot Rory Mcilroy could live with, even after it went out of bounds and shattered the screen of a woman’s mobile phone. He had, after all, spent the past five years anticipating a homecoming like no other, and the first shot was always going to be a battle between muscle memory, nerves and the wind that blows off the North Atlantic coast.
The missed tap-in was another story. Mcilroy was still kicking himself for that when he made another mess on the 18th hole to cap a day that went horrendously wrong for the hometown hero — and likely shot himself out of the first British Open in Northern Ireland in 68 years.
“Inexcusable,” said Mcilroy, who would have been excused if he had picked a few other choice words to describe the putt on the 16th hole.
A day Mcilroy had been anticipating for so long came apart almost before it began. A dreaded snowman on the first hole, a triple on the last, and Mcilroy shook hands with his playing partners before walking to the scoring tent to sign a card with a fat 8-over-par 79 at the bottom. Rory Mcilroy looks for his ball in the long rough on the first hole at Royal Portrush. By the time he teed up on No. 2, Mcilroy was already 4 over par.
He teed off as the betting favorite to hold the claret jug on Sunday. Now the odds are against him even making the cut.
All on a course where he shot 61 as a 16-year-old amateur and in an area where the mere mention of his name draws proud smiles from a population divided over a lot of things — except golf.
“I didn’t give a very good account of myself out there,” Mcilroy said. “I can play better, as you know.”
He can, and probably will. Mcilroy didn’t win four major championships and climb to the top of the world golf ranking without having the ability to rebound from a tough round.
But he had an opportunity he’ll have only once in his life in the historic return of the Open to Northern Ireland. And he let it slip away with bookend holes that went awry and a startling lack of concentration in between.
Maybe it was too much for anyone to handle to begin with — even a player named Rory Mcilroy.
“He’s got so much pressure on him, and expectations,” playing partner Paul Casey said. “There is nothing more difficult than playing in front of your friends and your family. To me, that’s the ultimate pressure.”
Rahm in contention despite stumbles
Jon Rahm, a twotime Irish Open winner at nearby Portstewart and in the south at Lahinch two weeks ago, joined first-round leader J.B. Holmes and Webb Simpson as the only players to reach 5 under par at any point during the day.
The Spaniard was particularly sharp around the greens, controlling chips and putts beautifully. He ran out of luck late, however, missing a 5-foot par putt on the 16th and dropping another shot on the 18th.
Even so, 68 was his best score in his fourth British Open.
Woods at a low point after 78
Tiger Woods is struggling to find the balance between playing and making sure his back holds up. He has played only 10 rounds since the Masters, and this was one to forget.
Woods three-putted for bogey on No. 5, bladed a chip on No. 6 for a double bogey and stretched his arms in mock triumph when he finally made a birdie — his only birdie — on No. 15.
He ended with another bogey for a 78, matching his thirdworst score in a major.
“Playing at this elite level is a completely different deal,” Woods said. “You’ve got to be spot on. These guys are too good. There are too many guys that are playing well, and I’m just not one of them.”