RORY MCILROY HASN’T had the best of starts to the FedEx Cup play-offs, as he hit a disappointing three-over par in the opening round of the Northern Trust Open.
An erratic display of three birdies and six bogies meant a score of 73, as American Russell Henley sits in the lead, nine strokes ahead.
Fellow countryman Scott Brown and Camilo Villegas of Colombia are two behind Henley at the top of the leaderboard
The New York tournament is the first of four ran off over a five-week period which the world number four intends to play in a bid to retain his FedEx Cup title.
Of course, it’s early days, but currently at 43rd in the standings, McIlroy needs to move into the top 30 in order to earn entry to the concluding Tour Championship.
With friend Harry Diamond on his bag, the 28-year-old has said that he’s looking forward to an extended break in the coming months to battle the after-effects of a broken rib suffered early in the season.
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