Rory McIlroy’s resolution to depart his driver in his locker didn’t have an effect on his scoring capacity as he made six birdies across the cramped Derry Golf Membership, however suffered a setback with three bogeys within the opening spherical of the DP World India Championship.
The world No. 2 bought off to a really perfect begin by chipping in from the perimeter on the primary tenth gap, however bother started on the eleventh gap when he three-putted and did not recuperate, leading to back-to-back bogeys.
Regardless of not having his longest membership in his bag, McIlroy had no bother birdieing the 2 par 5s to come back again at 1 beneath and choose up three extra strokes over the following seven holes.
Nonetheless, he bogeyed the 522-yard No. 8 and completed with a 3-under 69, 5 behind clubhouse chief Shane Lowry.
“The canine (driver) was out of the bag, in all probability asleep within the locker. I used to be fascinated with it earlier than I went to mattress final evening,” McIlroy mentioned of his membership choice in a post-round interview. “If I am actually cautious on the par 5s in the present day, I’d put a 5-wood on the inexperienced. However I am not going to hit the motive force. So I’ll should hit a 2-iron, 3-iron, 4-iron all the best way, and I’ve a 5-wood in case I must hit an method shot on a par 5.”
McIlroy mentioned the course was nonetheless “fairly tough” regardless of the restricted size required off the tee.
“I am simply attempting to be as conservative as potential off the tee and get a birdie on the par 5 and possibly two extra,” he mentioned.
Lowry, who led with eight birdies, mentioned the fixed noise of Derry’s site visitors was a lot simpler to cope with than the verbal abuse of the Ryder Cup crowd in New York.
Enjoying alongside European captain Luke Donald and teammate Tommy Fleetwood, Lowry completed with 5 consecutive birdies on the again 9 towards the backdrop of the fixed honking noise of the capital’s street community.
“Everybody had a good time and performed rather well, and we simply had a couple of extra birdies than that they had on the again 9,” Lowry mentioned. “We may hear the honking from the street, but it surely wasn’t as obnoxious because the crowds in Bethpage.
“There was a little bit chat there concerning the Ryder Cup, however on the finish of the day, we’re all skilled golfers and regardless that we’re buddies, on the finish of the day all of us wish to win towards one another.”
Fleetwood and Donald each completed at 4 beneath.
