R-Mac’s best drive exceeds 400 yards

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Rory McIlroy blasted the longest drive of his career at the Maybank Malaysian Open on Thursday.

Rory McIlroy blasted the longest drive of his career when he shrugged away his Masters meltdown in the first round of the Maybank Malaysian Open on Thursday.

Many eyes at the Kuala Lumpar Golf and Country Club were on McIlroy following his sensational collapse on the final day at Augusta National, but the hugely talented 21-year, looking as cool as his all white outfit in the sweltering heat, took it all in his stride as he fired a solid three-under-par 69 to finish five shots behind runaway leader Alexander Noren.

Unlike new Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, who was on the same flight as he was from Augusta, the irrepressible Northern Irishman showed no signs of a travel hangover or of any stress at the fact that his golf clubs arrived late after initially been declared missing as he birdied three of his opening five holes at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

But there was nothing quite like his answer to those wondering if and when he would bounce back than his drive on the fifth hole which, believe it or not, exceeded the 400-yard mark, partly thanks to a favourable bounce.

“Most Probably,” the 21-year-old replied with a smile when asked by reporters if it was the longest drive of his career.

“You don’t say this too often, but I was almost too close to the green on this par five. It must of went at least 400 yards.

“I was lucky it hit off the cart-path and stayed in bounds for me and set up an easy birdie.”

As the round progressed, however, a few loose shots crept into his game and his Augusta final-round putting woes returned when he missed a short par effort on 14 for his only dropped shot of the day.

“I would have definitely taken it before the round,” said McIlroy afterwards looking every bit like a man who has already started putting his final day Masters disaster behind him.

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