Rory McIlroy seeks comeback at The Open after tough first round
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 17, 2026, 6:39 AM
Last updated Jul 17, 2026
Rory McIlroy finished his opening round at Royal Birkdale with a score of two over par, placing him seven shots behind leader Jackson Suber. The challenging afternoon conditions hindered his play, impacting his putting. As the second round commenced, McIlroy aimed to leverage more favorable morning conditions to improve his position. Several notable players began with him, including Matt Fitzpatrick and Xander Schauffele, all hoping for better scores in early play.
- •McIlroy is seven shots behind leader Jackson Suber.
- •He finished the first round with a score of two over par.
- •The conditions on Thursday afternoon were particularly challenging.
- •McIlroy expressed optimism for the second round.
- •Notable players such as Fitzpatrick and Schauffele are in early groups.
- 6:39 AMYahoo Sports — Rory McIlroy plots Open comeback after tough start at Royal Birkdale
"McIlroy was seven shots off the pace after the opening round at Royal Birkdale
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