Rory McIlroy's Struggles at Royal Troon Revive 2019 Memories

Rory McIlroy's quest for a fifth major title took a hit at Royal Troon as he shot a seven-over 78 in the first round of the Open. Struggling with challenging conditions, McIlroy had double-bogeys at the Postage Stamp and the 11th hole, facing a steep challenge to make the cut.

Rory McIlroy's ambitions for a fifth major title were dealt a heavy blow at Royal Troon as he recorded a seven-over 78 in the first round of the Open on Thursday, echoing the challenges he faced in 2019. The Northern Irish golfer, who is aiming to end a decade-long major victory drought, commenced with a bogey and despite bouncing back momentarily, his performance deteriorated on the Ayrshire coast.

McIlroy's troubles intensified at the par-three eighth, notoriously known as the Postage Stamp, where his tee shot landed in a bunker and his recovery shot fell back into the sand, resulting in a double-bogey five. Further woes followed at the 11th hole when he went out of bounds, leading to another double-bogey.

Adding to his woes, the 35-year-old lost additional strokes on the 15th and 18th holes, critically jeopardizing his chances to make the cut. Reflecting on the day, McIlroy expressed his disappointment but remained focused on performing better in the next round. "The course was tough, and the conditions were challenging," McIlroy stated, vowing to concentrate on making the cut in the following round.

(With inputs from agencies.)