Rory McIlroy’s Open nightmare summed up by hitting himself in the face as golf superstar misses cut along with Tiger Woods
Rory McIlroy endured a disastrous outing as he failed the make the cut at The Open.
McIlroy had hopes of winning his fifth major at Royal Troon but saw his hopes dashed with a nightmare two days.
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McIlroy has had a tournament to forgetCredit: PAThe Northern Irishman carded a miserable seven-over-par opening round at Royal Troon, leaving him in 126th place.
Friday at the 152nd Open Championship posed as a huge uphill battle for McIlroy – and he had a terrible start.
The 35-year-old played the first five holes in five over to drop to 12-over-par for the tournament, including a triple-bogey 8 at the par-five fourth.
He found himself off course on numerous occasions and his championship was summed up best by him accidentally swinging his club into his face on the 17th.
READ MORE ON GOLFHe went to throw his club into the air as he made his way up the fairway, but got his face caught in the crossfire, dropping his shoulders in disbelief as his tournament was summed up.
Despite making two birdies on his way in, he finished on 11-over-par, leaving him in 125th. Only the top 70 players plus ties in the standings make the cut.
Reflecting on The Open, McIlroy said: “Obviously got off to the worst start possible today, being six over through six. If I need to remember something about this week, it’ll be the last few holes that I played.
“When I look back on the two majors that I didn’t play my best at, here and the Masters, the wind got the better of me on Friday at Augusta, and then the wind got the better of me the last two days here.
“I didn’t adapt well at all to that left-to-right wind yesterday on the back nine, and then this afternoon going out in that gusty wind on the front, as I said, it got the better of me, and I felt pretty uncomfortable over a few shots. Yeah, that four-hole stretch to start off is what cost me.”
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McIlroy chucked his club in the air but caught his face on the wayCredit: X:@Simon_Murdoch
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He couldn’t believe his luckCredit: X:@Simon_MurdochMeanwhile, Irishman Shane Lowry is leading the way on seven-under par.
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McIlroy’s Open heartbreak follows his devastating loss at the US Open, which saw him blow a two-shot lead over the final four holes.
Brooks Koepka ‘throws wife under bus’ as he looks after their baby on the driving range at The Open
Eventual champion Bryson DeChambeau leapfrogged him to claim victory.
Following his heartache in the US, McIlroy said: “It’s something that’s been a bit of a theme throughout my career.
“I’ve been able to take those tough moments and turn them into great things not very long after that.”
Now, though, McIlroy has failed to make the cut, with golf icon Tiger Woods also missing out.
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McIlroy was hacking the ball out of thick patches of grassCredit: Getty
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He was visibly frustrated at Royal TroonCredit: GETTYThe American – who finished in 143rd – has confirmed he will take some time away following what turned out to be a disastrous showing in Scotland.
Bob McIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton have also failed to make the cut.
McIlroy’s former agent, Andrew ‘Chubby’ Chandler, told talkSPORT the Northern Irishman’s ‘messy’ life may be contributing to his poor form.
He said: “Looking from the outside, and I haven’t seen Rory for a couple of years, but to me it looks like his life is messy. You know what it’s like as a sportsman, you have to have total focus and keep your mind on what you’re doing.
“But it looks like Rory has spent a year and a half fighting LIV for the PGA Tour, then the PGA Tour pulled the rug from under him, then he started talking about LIV not being too bad, then he had his marriage problems, and then he’s got such media scrutiny because he hasn’t won a major in ten years.”
Read More on talkSPORTMcIlroy last won a major at the 2014 PGA Championship.
He also won the 2011 US Open, 2012 PGA Championship and 2014 Open Championship.
