Steady return for McIlroy

Newly-crowned Open champion Rory McIlroy had to settle for an opening 69 on his return to action in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron today.

Newly-crowned Open champion Rory McIlroy had to settle for an opening 69 on his return to action in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron today.

Playing his first event since claiming his third major title at Royal Liverpool, McIlroy played his opening 11 holes in three under par at Firestone Country Club.

However, the 25-year-old then three-putted the third hole – his 12th – and ran up a double-bogey six on the eighth after finding a greenside bunker with his approach and taking four more shots to get down.

But McIlroy finished in style with a brilliant approach to the ninth to set up a birdie from just two feet to finish one under par, four shots off the clubhouse lead shared by American Ryan Moore and South African Charl Schwartzel.

“I felt like I played really solid,” McIlroy told reporters after his round. “I drove the ball for the most part well. I got myself into trouble a couple of times which led to a bogey and a double bogey on my back nine but apart from that I felt I played really solid golf without really doing anything.”

McIlroy has taken the Claret Jug to Akron after enjoying a couple of days celebrating with it following his Open triumph, but was quick to get back to work with plenty still to play for this season.

“I didn’t want any sort of let down and not just these two weeks, but basically the rest of the season because I’ve got myself now in a good position in the FedEx Cup, a good position in the world rankings, we’ve got a major left this year, there’s a lot of golf still left to play,” added McIlroy, who could reclaim the world number one spot from Adam Scott with his first World Golf Championship victory on Sunday.

“It’s great to win a major, great to win the Open Championship but I just want to keep going forward and I’ll have plenty of time in December and January to reflect on it and enjoy what I’ve achieved this year. For now I want to keep going and try to have some more success on the course.”

Moore had earlier carded a flawless 65 to improve his chances of securing a Ryder Cup berth, the 31-year-old currently lying 14th in the points standings with the top nine after next week’s US PGA Championship sealing a place on Tom Watson’s team for Gleneagles.

Compatriot Patrick Reed is just outside the automatic places in 10th but also boosted his hopes with an opening 67 marred by two bogeys in the last six holes.

Former Masters champion Schwartzel joined Moore in the clubhouse lead thanks to five birdies in his last eight holes, including four in a row from the fourth.

“I think it’s the sort of golf course that maybe lends you to going on a run like that. The golf course is in such good shape, there are not many blades of grass out of place,” Schwartzel said.

“This course can really frustrate you or you can be really happy with the way you played because there is no forgiveness. I started hitting some really good iron shots and rolling the putts in and it was not much different playing-wise than the other nine other than hitting it really close.”

Former world number one Tiger Woods was among the later starters and the defending champion was one over par after four adventurous opening holes in an event he has won eight times.

Woods three-putted the first from just eight feet and then snap-hooked his drive on the second so far left that it found the semi-rough to the right of the third hole, which runs in the opposite direction.

However, the 14-time major winner then hit a fairway wood onto the green and two-putted from 50 feet for birdie, only to drop a shot on the fourth after missing the green with his approach.

more courts articles

Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman
Coronation Street actor William Roache (91) given three months to settle tax debt Coronation Street actor William Roache (91) given three months to settle tax debt

More in this section

Shane Lowry Shane Lowry 'pretty happy' as he celebrates Paddy's Day with six-under at Sawgrass
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship - Day Two PGA Tour representatives set to meet PIF chief Yasir Al-Rumayyan
Scheffler wins as McIlroy and Lowry finish tied 19th at the Players Scheffler wins as McIlroy and Lowry finish tied 19th at the Players
Sport Push Notifications

By clicking on 'Sign Up' you will be the first to know about our latest and best sporting content on this browser.

Sign Up

Ireland's Top 10 Hidden Gems

Ten of the best golf courses in Ireland that too few people know about.

Read Here
Sport
Newsletter

Latest news from the world of sport, along with the best in opinion from our outstanding team of sports writers

Sign up
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited