Rory McIlroy on brink of exit after pitiless Troon punishes mistakes

During Rory McIlroy's first round at the 152nd Open, after about two hours, you might have started to wonder if he was questioning why he was out on the golf course on a gloomy summer day. Not too long ago, McIlroy was strolling along the High Line in Manhattan with his hat on, earphones in, listening to music. He later described it as a refreshing feeling to blend in with the crowd and just go about his day in New York. Unlike on the golf course, in the city, no one cared about his golf performance, which was a nice change for someone who is always in the spotlight.

As you watched him play at Royal Troon, you couldn't help but wonder if he was missing the course and if he was truly prepared to return to the big stage after his rough final round at the US Open in Pinehurst. He carded a 78, finishing seven over par and 10 shots behind Justin Thomas's lead. This was McIlroy's worst round at the Open since his 79 on the first day at Royal Portrush in 2019. Although he bounced back with a 65 on the second day that year, he still missed the cut. McIlroy acknowledged that it would be a challenge for him to make it this time around.

The round did not start well with a bogey on the 1st hole after missing a 10-foot putt. He was able to make up for it with a birdie on the 3rd hole. However, things took a turn for the worse at Royal Troon's famous 8th hole, known as the postage stamp. McIlroy's tee shot landed on the right edge of the small green, wavered for a moment, and then rolled into one of the challenging pot bunkers below. Despite his attempt to get the ball out, he misjudged the shot, and the ball ended up rolling back down the slope a few inches in front of where he was standing in the sand.

At that moment, he probably wished he was back in New York, surrounded by oblivious people, instead of in front of serious Scots. McIlroy took two more shots to get closer to the hole, then hit his ball into the rough on the 9th hole. He did a great job of saving par from there. On the 10th hole, he lost another shot, and on the 11th, he had to hit a provisional ball after his first shot went out of bounds. The lost ball was seen rolling towards Glasgow Central, chased by spectators hoping to keep it as a souvenir. McIlroy, five-over par, kept moving forward, hoping to put the past behind him.

He managed to smile for a group of children who were calling out to him on the 12th hole. However, that was one of the few times he showed any positive emotion on the back nine. His bad mood seemed to spread to those around him. Max Homa had a tough day on the course, struggling to stay out of the rough and interacting with the spectators. He hit a wayward shot into the grandstand on the 10th hole, but didn't stop to check on the person he may have hit. As for Tyrrell Hatton, who had been holding back his frustration for most of the round, he finally lost his cool and started swearing after missing a putt on the 15th hole.

Both of them were performing better than McIlroy, but he was still waiting for a lucky break that never seemed to come. He had another disappointing moment at hole 15, finding himself in a fairway bunker, and again at hole 18. However, the bright side was that other players were facing similar challenges. The weather was gloomy and the course was set up to be extremely challenging, with thick rough and unforgiving bunkers. McIlroy expressed surprise at how tough the back nine was playing, expecting slightly easier conditions. The wind added to the difficulty, making it a tough day for everyone.

"When situations like that arise, you go through your practice rounds with a plan that you believe will help you navigate the golf course. But when faced with unfamiliar wind conditions, it forces you to consider using different clubs that you may not have practiced with. He admitted that he should have adjusted better to the changing conditions. As he pointed out, Troon is unforgiving and does not overlook any mistakes. This blunder likely signals the end of his championship hopes."