McIlroy looking to cut out silly errors
Rory McIlroy is confident that his game is improving despite a poor first round at the Shell Houston Open.
The former world number one carded a one-over-par 73 on Thursday to leave himself nine shots behind first round leader D.A Points. McIlory was slow to get going, taking the turn on three over, but three birdies in four holes from the tenth got him back to level par before a bogey at 17 left him over par for the day.
Despite this, the Northern Irishman insists he felt there were positives to take from the round.
“I felt like I hit the ball okay. I think if I just eliminate the stupid mistakes – I made double on the par five on the front nine and made a couple of silly bogeys,” he explained.
“If I can just not do that and keep playing the way I’m playing, I feel like I’m playing okay.
“I just tried to commit to myself a little more on the back nine and seemed to help,” he added.
“So, a couple of loose shots here and there, but all in all, it was a tricky day, and if I could have got it back to even par, I would have been pretty happy, but I’m 1-over par and hopefully the conditions are a little calmer tomorrow morning and go throughout and make some more birdies.”
With one eye on next month’s Masters, McIlroy is hopefully he’ll have hit his straps before he heads to Augusta.
“I think I’m still a little bit tentative on the golf course and not committing to my shots fully,” he said, “but I think that just takes time and hopefully another three rounds this week and some good scores will give me confidence going into the Masters.”
Latest
-
NewsDavid Law tames the Green Monster course to move into contention in Hamburg
The Scot fired an eagle and eight birdies in a seven-under-par 66, a nine-shot improvement on his opening 75.
-
NewsRory McIlroy bounces back to form in the Memorial Tournament
At four under par McIlroy was three shots off the early clubhouse lead.
-
PGA TourMatt Wallace one stroke behind lead after first day of PGA Memorial in Ohio
Matt Wallace and Danny Willett are sitting second and equal-third respectively after the first day of the Memorial.
-
Ryder CupI don’t think LIV golfers should be on European Ryder Cup team – Rory McIlroy
American players remain eligible despite being banned or resigning from the PGA Tour in the wake of joining the Saudi-funded circuit.
-
European TourBrendan Lawlor and Kim Moore excited for next week’s Scandinavian Mixed event
The pair won the men’s and women’s titles at the G4D Open at Woburn earlier this month.
-
PGA TourEmiliano Grillo claims second PGA tour title in Texas
It was Emiliano Grillo’s first PGA Tour win in over seven years.
-
NewsPablo Larrazabal to follow Miguel Angel Jimenez after KLM Open win in forties
Larrazabal celebrated the milestone by winning his ninth DP World Tour title and second in just four weeks.
-
NewsHarry Hall bounces back from double blow to keep share of lead
Cornish rookie heads into final round tied at the top with American Adam Schenk.
-
PGA TourHarry Hall opens three-stroke halfway lead at Charles Schwab Challenge
The Cornish rookie is chasing his first PGA Tour win after opening round of 62.
-
PGA TourEngland’s Harry Hall takes three-shot lead in Texas with career-best outing
He picked up eight birdies without dropping a shot and managed to save par from 15 and 30 feet.