Rory McIlroy braced for even tougher weekend conditions in searing Memphis heat at FedEx St Jude Championship

The two-time Masters champion is back in action for the first time since The Open and is hoping to arrest his slump in form since retaining the Green Jacket in April.

McIlroy, who skipped the St Jude Championship last year, said: “I think the weekend is going to be a little tougher than these last few days, but it's fine. We're playing in two-balls.

“We're going to be out there for probably like four hours. It's not like you're in that heat for five-and-half, six hours with a full field. So I guess that's a positive. First time I've been back since the changes to the golf course. I like what they've done with everything and the greens and changing the grass and the fairways.”

McIlroy closed his opening round on Thursday with a one-to-forget four-over 74 – disrupted by bogeys across 16 and 17 before a double-bogey to finish.

Elaborating on the high temperatures players are experiencing this week at TPC Southwind, McIlroy recalled a past playing in extreme heat.

“I've played a lot in like Southeast Asia, like at the start of my career. So Singapore, Malaysia,” he said. “There's been times where it's just been absolutely miserable. Like this is hot here, but it's not like the humidity that you get in some of those places is just next level. This is bearable compared to some places.”

The challenging fifth hole represents the most difficult hole on the course and McIlroy highlighted the importance of finding the fairway to make life a little easier.

“All of a sudden, it's like 30 yards longer than it used to be,” he said in his pre-event press conference. “I got on the tee box yesterday, and I was like this hole was tough enough beforehand. In a way it makes the drive a touch easier because you don't have to flirt with the right side as much. Yeah, it's a straightaway tee shot for the most part. Maybe you've got to maybe just bleed it a little bit left to right, but it's all about getting the ball in the fairway. From the fairway on this golf course, you can attack it. It's a long, skinny green. You've got to be accurate with your second shot as well. Yeah, it's a hole that you make a par on and run to the 6th tee, that's for sure.”