- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,195,716
- Reaction score
- 59
Rory McIlroy’s start to the 2026 Players Championship was less than ideal.
The 2019 and 2025 champion has battled back issues recently, withdrawing from the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week and skipping the practice round at TPC Sawgrass this week. In fact, McIlroy didn’t arrive until Wednesday afternoon.
He was a “game-time decision” coming into action on Thursday, but he teed off at 2:12 p.m. and made his way through the Stadium Course.
McIlroy finished 2-over par-74 in the first round of The Players, putting him tied for 69th when he closed out his round.
Bogeys on 4, 5, and 11 didn’t do him any favors. His birdie on 6 seemed like a distant memory by the time he wrapped up the first-round.
He finished out the final seven holes on the back-9 shooting par, which saved him from an even worse start to his title defense.
“It's weird, I obviously played on Friday," McIlroy said after he finished his round. "It's not as if I've taken a ton of time off. But just felt like unbelievably rusty out there."
He said he wouldn't need to do a lot of prep work on his body between now and when he plays again tomorrow. McIlroy's group is set to tee off from No. 10 on March 13 at 8:52 a.m.
"I don't feel like I'm that far away. No one went really low this afternoon, which I expected them to, just because the conditions were pretty benign," he said. "If I can go out and shoot a good one tomorrow, I feel like I'll be right in it for the weekend."
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Rory McIlroy doesn't play well in opening round of Players Championship
Continue reading...
The 2019 and 2025 champion has battled back issues recently, withdrawing from the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week and skipping the practice round at TPC Sawgrass this week. In fact, McIlroy didn’t arrive until Wednesday afternoon.
He was a “game-time decision” coming into action on Thursday, but he teed off at 2:12 p.m. and made his way through the Stadium Course.
McIlroy finished 2-over par-74 in the first round of The Players, putting him tied for 69th when he closed out his round.
Bogeys on 4, 5, and 11 didn’t do him any favors. His birdie on 6 seemed like a distant memory by the time he wrapped up the first-round.
He finished out the final seven holes on the back-9 shooting par, which saved him from an even worse start to his title defense.
You must be registered for see images
“It's weird, I obviously played on Friday," McIlroy said after he finished his round. "It's not as if I've taken a ton of time off. But just felt like unbelievably rusty out there."
He said he wouldn't need to do a lot of prep work on his body between now and when he plays again tomorrow. McIlroy's group is set to tee off from No. 10 on March 13 at 8:52 a.m.
"I don't feel like I'm that far away. No one went really low this afternoon, which I expected them to, just because the conditions were pretty benign," he said. "If I can go out and shoot a good one tomorrow, I feel like I'll be right in it for the weekend."
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Rory McIlroy doesn't play well in opening round of Players Championship
Continue reading...
