Rory McIlroy Struggles at Houston Open, Finishes Even Par

Rory McIlroy opened his final event before the Masters with a level-par 70 at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, struggling with rainy conditions throughout his round at Memorial Park. He made two birdies and two bogeys, leaving him five shots behind leaders Ryan Gerard and Alejandro Tosti. McIlroy described his performance as 'a little pedestrian,' noting that he felt he was scrambling during the first nine holes but created more chances on the back nine without converting them. He hit 12 of 18 greens in regulation but lost ground on the putting green, recording a significant loss in strokes gained putting. Despite a less than stellar start, McIlroy remains focused on improving his position as he prepares for the upcoming Masters. His round reflects both the challenging weather and his ongoing adjustments after his recent win at The Players Championship.