McIlroy: Stuck in neutral
Rory McIlroy cut a frustrated figure after shooting a level-par 72 on Thursday at TPC Sawgrass.
The Northern Irishman made the turn in 37, continuing his trend of frustrating results on TPC Sawgrass’ front nine.
His first birdie of the day came at 11 but he gave that shot back on 16 when his four-iron approach to the benign par-five found the water.
McIlroy returned to even par with a birdie on the next hole.
While it was not a disastrous opening day for McIlroy, Jason Day's 63 coupled with the fact that a mammoth 33 players broke 70 does provide an element of context.
McIlroy believes the low scores can be explained by the friendly conditions that were gifted to the morning field.
"I don't know what the guys were doing out there this morning, but I don't think we saw the same golf course this afternoon," McIlroy said.
"It was a little firmer, the wind got up a little bit, and those guys made the course look awfully easy this morning.
"Today I just didn't get on one of those runs. It was just one of those days where it was sort of in neutral. I couldn't really get it going much at all."
McIlroy hit nine out of 14 fairways (64.29 percent) but only reached 11 out of 18 greens in regulation (61.11 percent). He crunched eight drives over 300 yards, including a 337-yard mashed-potato on the home hole.
His inability to convert well-struck tee-shots into birdie opportunities is a story we have become all too familiar with this year. McIlroy ranks 165th on the PGA Tour in proximity from 125-150 yards compared to being tied-tenth for driving distance.
"Distance control has been off. I've been hitting some short, hitting some long," McIlroy said.
"I feel like there’s quite a bit of disparity between a three-quarter shot and a full shot and, yeah, probably something I need to work on a little bit."
Drive for show, wedge for dough, Rory!
Latest
-
NewsJustin Rose maintains narrow lead as Dustin Johnson bows out at Augusta
Rose heads into the weekend with a one-shot lead after carding a second-round 72.
-
NewsRory McIlroy encouraged to take a break as early Masters exit beckons
McIlroy has not won a major championship since 2014.
-
NewsJustin Rose maintains lead at Masters after stuttering start
At seven under par, Rose was two shots ahead of 2015 champion Jordan Spieth and Australia’s Marc Leishman.
-
NewsJustin Rose fights back to stay on top at the Masters
The Englishman made three late birdies to fire a level-par 72.
-
NewsBernd Wiesberger makes ground after Justin Rose’s shaky start to second round
The Olympic champion’s first-round advantage is cut to a single stroke at Augusta.
-
NewsJordan Spieth: ‘When you’re a yard off here, you’re about 40 feet away’
Augusta isn’t feeling very generous, Spieth said after a battling opening 71.
-
NewsTyrrell Hatton after impressive opening 71: ‘This is the major I expect to do worst in’
The Englishman made a great start at Augusta on Thursday but is keeping his expectations in check.
-
NewsMasters day one: Justin Rose leads the way with superb 65
The Olympic gold medallist covered 10 holes in nine under at Augusta.
-
NewsOn this day in 2006: Phil Mickelson wins second Masters in three years
It was also a second successive major success for the Californian.
-
NewsTommy Fleetwood hits impressive ace at Masters
It came a fortnight after he also made a hole-in-one during the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.