It was a terrific competitive return to golf for Rory McIlroy in Philadelphia. The former World No.1 cruised to a rousing opening round 66 to lead ex-college roommate Denny McCarthy by a stroke. After a two-week break after his win at the Masters, McIlroy showed why he’s a favorite and the kind of challenge he brings to the course. He played beautifully, carding six birdies against just two bogeys. His plan of action was offensive, as he planned to attack the course through his driver.
So it’s an understatement to say the tournament means a lot to McIlroy. Not only is he the defending champion, but he’s a four-time winner of this event. He started his inward nine with back-to-back birdies and picked up two more birdies later in the round. After making four-straight errors from holes 11 through 15, he recovered his composure and continued on with his strong play. He capped his round in style 10 feet from the hole with a solid par save.
McIlroy said was happy with the decision, saying “I think it turned out pretty well.” He conceded to having some rust after a week-long layoff, but was hopeful about his performance. “I drove the ball pretty well. He conceded he was criticized for leaving things out. He virtually got away with it.
Denny McCarthy, another strong contender in the tournament, enjoyed a solid performance, finishing just behind McIlroy. He remarked on his recent play, saying, “I’ve been playing really well lately, so it doesn’t really surprise me.” McCarthy opened up the tournament with a bang. As Charlie would say, “There’s a lot of golf yet to play.” This is a really nice start. Eigenberg’s response I’m really just happy to see how my game has been going in the upward direction.
That’s a big bounce back for Rory McIlroy, who finished 12 th in New Orleans two weeks ago, with McIlroy and Shane Lowry co-defending champions there. The break between events gave McIlroy the chance to reset and get ready to play in this incredibly important event. It’s unusual to go that long without making a start,” agreed fellow competitor Alex Noren, who like Wu made his return from an extended layoff.
So as a testimony of his preparation, McIlroy said the key to his performance was how smart he played all week. He studied the greens extensively and made sure he was prepared for the tests to come. This sharp preparation was on full display as he pivoted on the fly all throughout his round.
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