AFTER LAST WEEKEND’S dramatic walk-off, it was back to work for Rory McIlroy earlier.
And the world No 1 kept his vow to “grind it out” when the going got tough to post a first round of 73 in the WGC-Cadillac Championship in Miami.
McIlroy – three over with three holes of the Blue Monster course at Doral to play — birdied two of them to finish seven shots behind playing partner Tiger Woods, who shared the lead with Sergio Garcia, Graeme McDowell, US Masters champion Bubba Watson and Sweden’s Fredrik Jacobson.
“I hit some good shots, I hit some not-so good shots,” he said afterwards. “As I have been saying all week this is a work in progress, I am staying patient and I have another three rounds to work on it more and shoot a few good scores.
“I just had to play each hole as it came and shoot the best score possible. It was nice to sneak in a couple of birdies in the last three holes and make it look somewhat respectable, even though everyone seems to be going pretty low out there; it was a day where it was perfect scoring conditions.
“I wasn’t putting as much pressure on myself and that’s why I didn’t get as frustrated. If I had played like that last week I would have been not so happy but I understand it’s a work in progress and hopefully it will come together soon.”
More to follow
