Rory McIlroy Encouraged Despite Slow Irish Open Start

Rory McIlroy showed encouraging form during the first round of the Irish Open at The K Club, shooting a 1-under-par 71 despite a disappointing finish with two bogeys in his last three holes. McIlroy recorded five birdies and four bogeys, sitting five shots behind the early leader Nacho Elvira, who posted a bogey-free 66. The Northern Irishman expressed satisfaction with his driving and ball striking, highlighting that his game feels good as he prepares for the Ryder Cup later this month. Though he missed several mid-range putts and struggled to convert scoring opportunities late in his round, McIlroy remains optimistic about fine-tuning his game in the coming weeks, including at the BMW PGA Championship. Other notable performances included home favorite Shane Lowry with a 69 and major winner Brooks Koepka matching McIlroy's score. McIlroy emphasized that he is continuing the positive trajectory seen at the Tour Championship and aims to be more efficient with his scoring moving forward.