Rory McIlroy in the mix at Canada Open after 'good day's work'
Ap Of Tees Ireland Gunn/the 11th Canadian Northern Press Open The Pic: The Off Round Mcilroy Canadian On Frank Via The Hole Rory Of First During
Rory McIlroy returned from a brief sabbatical and shook off a slow start to put in “a good day’s work” as he fired an opening-round 66 at the RBC Canadian Open which left him in an early tie for third.
Returning to the scene of the first of his back-to-back Canadian wins at Hamilton Golf and Country Club, McIlroy joined defending champion Nick Taylor and another home favourite, Taylor Pendrith, in a marquee morning grouping that had patrons pouring through the gates at first light.
The early start took a little bit of a toll with McIlroy initially struggling to find birdies amid Hamilton’s rolling hills. Crucially though, he wasn’t finding trouble either. There was nothing wrong with his nine-straight pars on holes 10-18, his front nine, particularly given that McIlroy was playing them blind, with the course having undergone significant remodelling since his triumph here in 2019.
He hit paydirt quickly after the turn, carding his first birdie on hole one, his tenth, and finding three more on the way home for a blemish-free card which felt particularly welcome as he wrestles with on and off-course issues and faces into a hectic four-week stretch with the US Open at Pinehurst looming large.
“I hadn't seen the back nine. I only played the front nine in the pro-am. So I was happy enough to get out of there in even par and not make a bogey,” said McIlroy, who took last week off Tour attending a friend’s wedding in Italy as tabloid coverage of his divorce from Eric Stoll continued to rage. “But once I got that nine holes out of the way I knew there were some chances on that front side and played probably much better on that front side. Four birdies there, no bogeys, [that] was a good day's work.”
With Ryder Cup rival Sam Burns jumping out to an early share of the lead alongside fellow American Sean O’Hair with 7-under 63s, McIlroy kept himself well within reach thanks to some really steady putting. Having been frustrated by the short stick at the PGA Championship in Valhalla earlier this month, that fluidity on the greens was as satisfying as his bogey-free card.
“I felt like I got some good practice on the front side there just trying to save par the whole time, getting a lot of practice on my 6-footers,” said McIlroy. “It was good. I missed a couple, too, I had that 3-putt on the par-5, the fourth hole. Apart from that felt like I putted really, really nice. Hopefully I can keep that going the next few days.
“It's been nice [to go bogey-free]. Thankfully, it's something that I'm starting to do again. The start of the year or at least through like February, March, April, I was making some big numbers and there was a lot of volatility on the scorecard. But to play bogey-free rounds is really nice again.”
Playing the event for the first time, Seamus Power shot a two-over 72 which featured just one birdie, at the long fourth hole and closed with a frustrating bogey on the last. Shane Lowry was among the later starters as he bids to continue his hot run of form at a course where he finished runner-up to McIlroy five years ago.
