Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

McIlroy starts The Open with quadruple-bogey

Written by 
Published in Breaking News
Thursday, 18 July 2019 04:28

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland -- Rory McIlroy's start to The Open in his native Northern Ireland couldn't have been much worse.

McIlroy, the favorite to win the 148th Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club, hit his tee shot on the first hole out of bounds and ended up with a quadruple-bogey 8 on the par-4, 421-yard hole.

McIlroy's opening drive hit a woman and cracked the screen of the mobile phone in her pocket.

After a one-stroke penalty, McIlroy hit his second tee shot into the deep rough on the left side of the fairway. His fourth shot was low and ended up in even thicker rough on the left side of the green. He was forced to take an unplayable lie near the green.

Then he made a great pitch shot to about 2 feet and two-putted for 8.

After the opening hole, McIlroy's odds to win The Open dropped from 8-to-1 to 33-to-1 on online betting sites. He also hit his opening tee shot out of bounds during his practice round Wednesday.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, it's the first time McIlroy started a major championship with a double-bogey or worse since the 2012 Masters, when he opened with a double-bogey. It's only his second quadruple-bogey in a major (he had one on the 11th hole in the final round of the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion) and only the fourth in his PGA Tour career.

No major winner in the past 20 years started a tournament with worse than a double-bogey.

McIlroy's forgettable start spoiled The Open's highly anticipated return to Royal Portrush, where it hadn't been played since 1951. McIlroy, 30, grew up in nearby Holywood, and he set the Royal Portrush course record with a 61 when he was 16.

He talked about the pressure of playing in The Open in his native country Wednesday.

"I'm just treating this like any other Open Championship," McIlroy said. "I've played well here for the last few years. I've played well on this golf course. So I've just got to go out and hit the shots and stay in the present. If I just keep putting one foot in front of the other, hopefully by Sunday night that will be good enough."

McIlroy wasn't the only player who saw everything fall apart on a hole. David Duval posted a 13 on the par-5 seventh hole.

The 2001 champion also had a quadruple-bogey 8 on the fifth at Royal Portrush. He birdied the first two holes and is 11 over through eight.

Duval won at Royal Lytham & St. Annes 18 years ago but now spends more time as a golf commentator than he does playing professional events.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Read 489 times

Soccer

Mexico rally past Honduras to reach NL semifinals

Mexico rally past Honduras to reach NL semifinals

A brace from Club América forward Henry Martín carried Mexico to a comeback 4-2 aggregate victory ov...

State of play at Man City: Guardiola's future, squad uncertainty and exec turnover

State of play at Man City: Guardiola's future, squad uncertainty and exec turnover

EmailPrintOpen Extended Reactions(Editor's Note: This feature has been updated slightly following ne...

Messi sets up Martinez golazo in Argentina win

Messi sets up Martinez golazo in Argentina win

Argentina striker Lautaro Martinez scored in the second half to secure a 1-0 home win against Peru i...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Westbrook posts 200th career triple-double in win

Westbrook posts 200th career triple-double in win

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook posted the...

Draymond jabs at Grizz's Jenkins: 'Too emotional'

Draymond jabs at Grizz's Jenkins: 'Too emotional'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsGolden State Warriors star Draymond Green was critical of the Grizz...

Baseball

Vogt, Murphy win top managers in first year on job

Vogt, Murphy win top managers in first year on job

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Milwaukee Brewers' Pat Murphy and Cleveland Guardians' Stephen...

Soto, Bregman, 10 more opt for MLB free agency

Soto, Bregman, 10 more opt for MLB free agency

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsJuan Soto, Alex Bregman, Willy Adames, Pete Alonso, Corbin Burnes a...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated