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.
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– First published 11.09