Rory McIlroy says he was beaten by wind at Troon 

Rory McIlroy says he was beaten by wind at Troon

Rory McIlroy’s quest for a fifth major title will extend into another decade after enduring one of his worst performances at the Open Championship.

 

Just five weeks after a devastating loss at the US Open, McIlroy followed up an opening round of 78 with a second round of 75 at Royal Troon, finishing 11 over par—only marginally better than his showing at Muirfield in 2013.

 

The world number two conceded that he began contemplating his holiday plans after any remaining hope of making the cut vanished when he played the first six holes in six over par, including a triple-bogey eight on the fourth.

 

“I got off to the worst start possible today, and once I made that eight, that was it. Twenty-two holes into the tournament, and I’m already thinking about where I’m going to vacation next week,” McIlroy, whose last major victory came in 2014, admitted.

 

“I knew I wasn’t going to shoot four or five under to make the cut. The remaining 14 holes were pretty meaningless, but at least I played okay.”

 

McIlroy acknowledged that he had struggled to cope with the windy conditions over the first two days. He added, “In the two majors where I’ve played poorly—The Masters and here—the wind got the better of me on Friday at Augusta, and I didn’t adapt well here at all.

 

“I felt uncomfortable over a few shots, and that four-hole stretch really cost me.”

 

After dropping a shot on the third hole, McIlroy encountered a disastrous triple-bogey on the fourth. His ball barely advanced from heavy rough, missed the green with his fourth shot, and then found a greenside bunker.

 

More shots were lost on the fifth and sixth holes before conditions slightly improved. McIlroy managed seven consecutive pars and then birdied the 14th hole after holing out from a greenside bunker.

 

By that point, McIlroy could only laugh, and he did so again on the 16th hole after accidentally hitting himself in the face with his club while attempting to throw it into the air following a poorly executed approach shot on the par five.

 

“I feel like I say this every Open Championship, but it’s not like we only play four events a year,” McIlroy reflected.

 

“We play around 25 events, so there’s still plenty to play for. While the majors have come and gone, I can refocus and reset for the Olympics, which will be another cool experience.

 

“I’m also in contention to win both [money list] titles on either side of the Atlantic, so there’s still a lot to play for until the end of the year.”