St. Patrick’s Day couldn’t have started out worse for the young man from Northern Ireland.
There was no luck of the Irish for Rory McIlroy at Bay Hill. His opening tee shot hooked enough to find the out-of-bounds at the first hole and that set the tone for the world’s second-ranked player.
McIlroy suffered a second double at the par four eighth when his tee shot left him 157-yards to the hole from the left fairway bunker. He caught the shot fat and it found the water that guards the green.
Another double and a 39 on the front.
McIlroy birdied 12 then promptly bogeyed 13. At the 16th, the short par five that yielded 10 eagles on the day, McIlroy drowned another golf ball with his second shot.
He managed an even par 36 coming home but his unimpressive play continued.
McIlroy hit only four fairways and six greens to set himself up for first round misery.
