Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) and Rory McIlroy (Spain), playing in the same group on the first day of The Open ($16.5 million purse), had a stark contrast in fortunes.
McIlroy and Rahm were tied for 32nd (even par) and tied for 89th (3-over par), respectively, after the first round of the tournament at Royal Liverpool Golf Club (par-71, 7,383 yards) in Wirral, England, on Sept. 21.
It was McIlroy who had the better day, not just on the day, but off the course as well.
At 2-over par with one birdie and three bogeys through 12 holes, McIlroy bounced back with back-to-back birdies on the 14th (par-4) and 15th (par-5) before running into trouble on the 18th (par-5).
He hit his second shot into a deep bunker next to the green, and his third shot hit the wall and didn’t clear the bunker.
In the midst of all the excitement, McIlroy showed his mettle.
McIlroy swung with his left leg over the grass and the ball settled close to the hole. He then dropped in a par putt.
“I was two over par going into the 12th hole, so I’m very happy to get to even par,” McIlroy said afterward.
Lam, on the other hand, was even par through 10 holes before going downhill with three bogeys.
Rahm also bogeyed the final 18 holes and reportedly became angry with the cameramen around him as he walked away.
“According to reporters who witnessed it, Rahm complained with a mix of yelling and profanity,” Golfweek reported.
“I was walking off the 18th hole at the time and I was going over the bad moments (in the match),” Rahm told the Mixed Zone, adding, “I couldn’t go at my own pace because there were so many people in my way.”
Earlier in the day, Viktor Hovlan (NOR) got bird poop on his clothes as he prepared his approach shot on the par-5 15th hole.
As if on cue, 카지노사이트킴 Hovlan birdied the 16th (par-4) to finish the first round under par. He is tied for 19th place with a 1-under 70.
