Rory Mcilroy made a slow start to his final event PGA Tour in front of the Masters by starting a 70 round at Texas Children’s Houston Open.
FedExCup leader, already winner in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-AM and players this season, has chosen a first appearance by Houston from 2014 to prepare for his attempt to complete the career’s Grand Slam next month at Augusta National.
McILROY – playing in the morning wave – mixes two birdies with so many Bogeys in the Par -70 layout on the Memorial Park Golf Stadium, with a disappointing day to the Greens seeing him just 49 feet of soles, leaving him with five brain attacks.
McILROY is trying to complete Grand Slam career at Masters next month and claim a first big title from 2014
The world no. 2 – Starting on the back of nine – he lost eight feet to save the exchange rate at 14th and failed to take advantage of the 16th, before overturning his first Birdie of the day in Par -Five third, throwing a shot in the next.
Mcilroy remained over the exchange rate until he sinks into the day Par-Five-The penultimate hole of the day-with the 35-year-old needing improved performance on Friday to make sure he avoids a first lost cut by the Open.
“A little pedestrian street, I guess it’s a good way to describe it,” Mcilroy said. “We had to deal with these conditions early, rainy and not too pleasant to play.
Rory McILROY destroyed a level 70 in the opening round of
“I did a few par saves early on that and then I had a lot of chances in the second nine where you don’t turn.
“Yes, a kind of two -half story. I felt like I looked at me mostly in the first nine and then I feel like I left a couple out there the last nine.”
Taylor Pendrith, Keith Mitchell, Ryan Gerard and Alejandro Tosti share the lead in five, while the European Ryder Cup hopes that Victor Perez and Rasmus Hojgaard are both in Group A.
Scottie Scheffler is a further shot after a launch without paint, with the world No. 1 – looking for a maiden victory of the season ahead of the Augusta National Defense Defense next month – recording three Birdies in his round.
Scottie Scheffler (right) chases a first victory of the season, while Rickie Fowler (left) needs a victory to qualify for the masters
“I felt like I started playing a little better on the back nine,” Scheffler said. “The first nine I was a little bit about it around, but still publish a score today. The conditions were quite difficult out there today with the rain and the wind, so generally nice to keep a clean card.”
The first round is suspended due to darkness at 7.28 pm Local time (12.28pm GMT), with Taylor Dickson – two from the lead with three holes to play – among those who cannot end.
England’s Harry Hall posted one two – below 68 and Rickie Fowler – playing with Scheffler – sits a further stroke, while the defense of Stephan Jaeger’s champion is next to Mcilroy at Par.
Who will win the Texas Houston Open? Watch all week live on Sky Sports. Early coverage continues on Friday from 12.15 pm at Sky Sports Golf before full coverage from 8pm. Get Sky Sports or flow without contract now.
