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McIlroy: a morning to forget. Presseye/Kevin Scott/INPHO
Royal Nightmare

Rory McIlroy had an absolute nightmare at the Irish Open

Michael Hoey and Graeme McDowell are the best of the Irish on day one.

Updated 13.05

RORY MCILROY HAD a nightmare start to the sold-out Irish Open at Royal County Down.

McIlroy finished his round dead last after shooting a rare nine-over-par 80 and, barring a miracle, will miss the cut for the weekend.

Playing with Rickie Fowler (E) and the equally dreadful Martin Kaymer (+8), the world number one opened with a par three on the 10th hole.

But he then bogeyed 11, 15, 16, 17 and 18 as his putter went cold in a horrific run.

It didn’t get much better after the turn as he bogeyed the fourth and fifth holes, and then the seventh and eighth, to slump to rock bottom.

Only a 10-foot putt to save par on the ninth hole prevented his day from getting any worse, drawing a generous cheer from the gallery.

Denmark’s Soren Kjeldesen is the early leader on -3 – TWELVE shots ahead of McIlroy.

Michael Hoey leads the early Irish challenge on level par while Graeme McDowell is a shot further back on +1 after shooting 72 on Thursday.

Check out the latest scores here >

– First published 11.09

‘I want to show my kids that Dad still is a great player as opposed to used to be’

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