Rory McIlroy 'limited the damage' after shooting one-over 72 in opening round of Australian Open
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy made a spirited return to the Australian Open, teeing off for the first time in Sydney since 2015 as he shot a one-over round of 72.
McIlroy began his round on the back nine with a promising birdie at the 10th, but consecutive bogeys quickly followed, setting a challenging tone for the day. Despite flashes of brilliance, the Masters champion found himself locked in a constant battle with the elements, as crosswinds tested his shot-making and early three-putts hindered his momentum.
“Every time I made a birdie or two, I made a bogey or two,” McIlroy reflected post-round. “It felt like one of those days – what side of par am I going to finish on, under or over?”
Yet, the five-time major winner remained upbeat, accepting that the tricky conditions had levelled the playing field.
“It's not like anyone is getting away out there, so I limited the damage and hope the conditions are a little bit better tomorrow.”
McIlroy was quick to acknowledge the enthusiastic support from fans, who turned out in impressive numbers for the early morning tee time.
“It was amazing, I couldn't believe how many people were there at seven o'clock when we teed off,” he said.
“There are events in golf that means a little bit more. I think everybody in Australia takes so much pride in their national Open and you can feel it, so it's a pleasure to be here again and play there with Adam [Scott] and Min Woo [Lee].
"I'm looking forward to getting out there with them again tomorrow."
His playing partners Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee both finished two under for the day, while Australia's Elvis Smylie, New Zealand's Ryan Fox and Mexico's Carlos Ortiz are in a three-way tie for the lead on six under.
As the tournament progresses, McIlroy will be hoping for calmer weather and a steadier scorecard, buoyed by the passionate local crowd and a renewed appreciation for one of golf’s most historic championships.