Rory McIlroy admitted that enchancment is required off the tee after “riding his luck” throughout a robust begin to The Gamers Championship at TPC Sawgrass.
McIlroy carded a five-under 67 regardless of discovering 4 fairways throughout an eventful opening day, the place he combined seven birdies with two bogeys to sit down inside a shot of the early lead.
The world No 2 switched driver and woods mid-tournament throughout final week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, reverting to his earlier golf equipment forward of his last spherical after an erratic driving show.
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Rory McIlroy struggled off the tee throughout his opening spherical at TPC Sawgrass, the place he’s seeking to win The Gamers for a second time
McIlroy caught with the identical unique TaylorMade golf equipment on the PGA Tour’s flagship occasion, the place he continued to wrestle off the tee and completed tied-A hundred and fortieth of the 144-man area for driving accuracy.
“I certainly didn’t drive it the way I wanted to,” McIlroy informed reporters after his opening spherical. “I did not hit it in as many fairways as I’d have preferred.
“I think with the greens being so receptive, you can get away with it a little bit. I’m not going to be able to get away with it for the rest of the week. Sort of rode my luck out there a little bit.”
McIlroy birdied his opening two holes and responded to 2 bogeys over his subsequent 5 by racking up 4 consecutive birdies from the ninth, taking him to 4 underneath, earlier than producing a sensational restoration from the bushes on the par-four 18th so as to add a final-hole birdie.
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Rory McIlroy made a cost in the direction of the highest of the leaderboard at TPC Sawgrass with a four-birdie run from the ninth
“It (right) is a better place than left off the tee, so I was just trying to cut a three-wood up into the wind to get it on to the fairway,” McIlroy defined. “You’re just hoping for a backswing and a gap and I had both of those.
“I used to be simply attempting to chip-and-run a five-iron up across the entrance of the inexperienced and make 4 and get out of there. It was a bonus to get it up on the inexperienced and to gap the putt was a beautiful option to end.”
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Rory McIlroy closed to inside one of many lead with an unbelievable birdie on the 18th gap, judging a chip and run from the pine straw to perfection!
Scheffler: I gave myself sufficient alternatives!
McIlroy was enjoying in the identical group as two-time main champion Xander Schauffele – who posted a level-par 72 – and world No 1 Scottie Scheffler, who started his bid for a historic three-peat by carding a three-under 69.
“I feel okay about the round,” Scheffler stated. “I feel the golf course is enjoying good. There’s punishment on the market with the heavy tough and clearly lots of hazards.
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Check out how Scottie Scheffler overcame harm points in 2024 at The Gamers Championship to defend his title in dramatic style
“I felt like I did some decent things out there and gave myself some chances. Felt like I could have holed a few more putts. At the end of the day, I did a lot of good things on the course.
“I hit lots of good putts. I stayed affected person on the market. I did not attempt to power something across the golf course. I gave myself sufficient alternatives to shoot a greater rating, bit I simply wasn’t in a position to rating in addition to I’d have hoped to.”
Watch The Gamers all through the week dwell on Sky Sports activities. Stay protection continues on Friday from 11.30am on Sky Sports activities Golf, with 10 further feeds – together with Featured Teams, Featured Holes and 6 bonus teams – on Sky Sports activities+. Get Sky Sports activities or stream with no contract on NOW.
