McIlroy struggles in wind; unheralded Herman leads

PALM BEACH GARDENS, United States — World number one Rory McIlroy battled to a three-over-par 73 at a windswept Honda Classic on Thursday in his first US PGA Tour start of 2015.

Given the daunting conditions, which saw only 19 players break par, the Northern Irishman wasn't too disappointed with an effort that left him eight shots off the pace set by Web.com Tour graduate Jim Herman.

"I'm coming off a three-week break, tough conditions to come back in," McIlroy said.

"Today wasn't what I wanted to start with, but if I can get it into red numbers tomorrow I'm right back in the tournament."

McIlroy opened with a double-bogey at the first hole of the par-70 PGA National layout, unable to find his tee shot that landed in the brush.

McIlroy pulled back a shot with a birdie at the third, but then made bogey at the fourth and double-bogey from the water at the fifth.

After a birdie at the eighth, McIlroy stumbled to bogeys on 11 and 14 before salvaging his round with a birdie-birdie finish.

"The wind started to die down for us the last few holes," said McIlroy, who said he told playing partner Brooks Koepka as they headed toward the 15th tee, "Let's just make a couple birdies on the way in, try to get something out of it."

Koepka, winner of the Phoenix Open earlier this month, ended up signing for an eight-over 78 while Dustin Johnson, the third man in the group, posted a 77. (AFP)