Rory McIlroy struggles at Royal Birkdale despite venue changes
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 19, 2026, 5:30 PM
Last updated Jul 19, 2026
Rory McIlroy's performance at the Open Championship fell short as he ended the weekend at Royal Birkdale. He shot level par over the last two days, which left him well behind the leaders. McIlroy expressed concerns that recent changes to the course had compromised its links characteristics, making it difficult to navigate. He mentioned that the greens were inconsistent and challenging, contributing to his struggles throughout the tournament.
- •McIlroy shot level par over the final two rounds.
- •He experienced difficulty with the greens at Royal Birkdale.
- •Recent renovations altered the traditional links feel of the course.
- •McIlroy indicates that many players struggled with putting.
- •The Open Championship format continues to adapt to modern golfing trends.
- 5:30 PMYahoo Sports — Rory McIlroy points out what was so unusual for Royal Birkdale compared to a normal Open venue
"Rory McIlroy’s Open Championship did not end how he’d have wanted. A poor weekend brought him way out of contention.
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