July 18, (THEWILL) – Rory McIlroy faced a challenging start at the British Open, carding a seven-over-par round on Thursday at Royal Troon.
The world number two now finds himself fighting to make the cut after a difficult day in windy and rainy conditions on Scotland’s west coast.
McIlroy’s troubles began at the par-three eighth hole, where he found a bunker and made a double bogey. His struggles continued with another double bogey at the 11th after hitting out of bounds. The Northern Irishman also dropped shots at the 10th, 15th, and 18th holes.
The 35-year-old golfer attributed his poor performance to the challenging weather conditions and his inability to adapt quickly enough. McIlroy explained that cross-winds coming from a different direction than he had experienced in practice earlier in the week caught him off guard.
Other top players also found the course demanding. US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau posted a five-over 76, while world number four Ludvig Aberg shot a 75. The combination of tough conditions and a challenging course proved difficult for many competitors.
Looking ahead, McIlroy’s focus has shifted to making the cut. He emphasised the need to play better in the second round and shoot a score under par to ensure he stays for the weekend. McIlroy last missed the cut at the British Open in 2019 at Portrush, where a strong second-round performance could not overcome a poor opening day.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
