Switch makes no difference for McIlroy
RORY McILROY has vowed to stick with his new ‘crosshanded’ putting technique despite a poor finish to his first round at the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral in Florida yesterday. There were encouraging signs early on as McIlroy notched up five birdies and two bogeys in his first 10 holes, however the 26-year-old then began to struggle, three-putting for par on the eigth, his penultimate hole, before recording a double bogey on the last for an opening round of 71, five shots behind clubhouse leader Scott Piercy. ‘It’s the first day competitive with a new putting grip and while that felt pretty good, it’s just disappointing to find the water with my drive at the last,’ said McIlroy. World number one Jordan Spieth, who finished three under, said he enjoyed playing with McIlroy. ‘We had fun and for a while there were feeding off each other, turning in two, two and three under,’ said Spieth ‘It was nice to try and get into a rhythm together because the last few weeks have been a little rough on all three of us. ‘I’ve been doing quite a bit of work. I don’t feel great about the way I am striking the ball.’
ACHANGE in putting technique brought only a familiar story of missed opportunities for Rory McIlroy at the WGC- Cadillac Championship at Doral yesterday.
The world number three totally outplayed his playing partner Jordan Spieth for 17 holes and yet somehow ended up with a 71 to the American’s 69.
Rising Englishman Danny Willett — who has two top three finishes to his name in the last three editions of these elite field World Golf Championship events — made another strong start here with a 68 to continue his rich vein of form.
With world number one Spieth and number two Jason Day for company this was certainly no lowkey return to a left hand below right putting technique which McIlroy last used in competition in 2008.
After leaving five putts in a row short on the first five greens, McIlroy found himself with a tricky five footer with a sharp break on the 14th green — he began at the 10th — to avoid a confidence-eroding three putt.
But he made that one, and then holed from 8ft for a birdie at the 15th, followed by one from 12ft at the 17th.
On the back nine, alas, it was a different tale as he missed countless opportunities set up by his imperious long game.
At the 7th he missed from 8ft and then frustratingly three putted the par five 8th.
The frustration was obvious at the par three 9th, as he found the water with his tee shot and had to reload.
Twenty minutes earlier, McIlroy had been in good spirits at the par five 8th, the infamous hole where he chucked his three iron into the water last year.
In a nice self- deprecatory gesture, he mimicked the action, but this time decided to hold on to the club.
But the mood changed quickly with the bitterly disappointing events that followed and after he was only half joking when he said he thought about chucking his putter in the water at the 8th after what happened to him on the green.
‘One club in the water here is enough, I think,’ he said.
McIlroy ended up with a destructive 33 putts — clearly his new technique needs fine-tuning — although he said afterwards, ‘Felt like it was pretty good.’
It wasn’t the only thing which was off-centre about McIlroy yesterday as the bib of his caddy, JP Fitzgerald had a spelling error. It read ‘MCLLROY.’ McIlroy was asked if he’d seen the blooper. ‘I did. I’ve been out here nine years now and they still couldn’t get my name right,’ he said.
Alongside the 26-year- old from Holywood, Co. Down, Spieth showed signs of a return to form following a missed cut in his last event, despite taking a bogey four at the 9th, while Day shot 72.
Scott Piercy set the pace with a sizzling eight- birdie 66, which included a penalty shot on the penal 18th where his ball plugged in the face of a hazard.
Veteran Phil Mckelson was at his swashbuckling best as he fired seven birdies in a 67, to trail Piercy by a shot. It was Lefty’s 12th sub- 70 score in 19 rounds this season.
Perhaps he is being inspired by staying in the Tiger Woods Villa at Trump Doral. Mickelson explained that the Villa is close to the driving range.
With Doral in docile mood, there was scope for low scoring. Charley Hoffman began with four birdies, then had four bogeys before a lone par at the 9th.
There were contrasting fortunes for the other two Irishmen in the elite f i eld, Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell.
Offaly native Lowry’s one under par 71 was all the more credible as he began sluggishly and found himself two over par through eight holes.
But a superb tee shot at the treacherous 9th set up a two and kick- started his round. Lowry gained further momentum at the long 10th where he crushed a 313 yard approach to within three feet for an eagle.
While he gave a shot back at the next, he stiffed an approach on the 17th for birdie and safely negotiated the demanding 18th in par.
McDowell was on the back foot after a double bogey five on the short 5th where he found water.
Birdies on the 8th and 10th brought McDowell back to level par, a position he held until the final five holes.
But a brace of bogeys on the 14th and 16th saw McDowell card a 74, two over par.