McIlroy Trails Leaders After Mixed Opening Round at The Open

Rory McIlroy had a challenging start at the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush, posting a one-under 70 despite severe driving difficulties, hitting only two of 14 fairways. Though ranked near the bottom for driving accuracy, his resilience and scrambling ability kept him in contention, finishing three shots behind a five-way lead at four under par. McIlroy's round was marked by early struggles, including a bogey on the first hole reminiscent of his disastrous 2019 start at the same venue, but he rebounded with several birdies to reach three under before late bogeys pulled him back to one under. The Northern Irishman acknowledged the pressure of playing in front of a large home crowd but felt he handled the occasion better than in 2019. The round was also slowed by pace-of-play issues, with McIlroy's group taking nearly six hours to complete 18 holes. Overall, while McIlroy's driving remains a concern, his putting and iron play, combined with strong mental resolve, suggest he remains a contender as the tournament progresses.