Rory McIlroy bemoans wasteful start at Australian Open

Author Photo
Sporting News Logo

The world number six missed four short putts, including two inside one metre at the seventh and 16th holes, to trail first-round leader Adam Scott by seven shots.

"I missed four short ones out there," McIlroy said moments after making a closing birdie to sit in a share of 15th spot.

MORE: Adam Scott breaks course record to lead Australian Open | Modest Scott still targeting swing improvement

"I was just wasteful. I felt like it could've been a lot better, a lot lower.

"Tee to green was good and I'm driving the ball I feel like the best I ever have.

"It's just a matter of being more efficient and scoring better, that's really it.

"I only played the par fives at one-under and with the way I'm driving I should be playing those at four under."

Asked if he had trouble reading the undulating Royal Sydney greens, McIlroy replied: "I started to read them from behind the hole the last few holes and hit a few better putts.

"We'll get the best of the greens tomorrow (morning) and hopefully I can hole a few tomorrow."

McIlroy added of Scott's sizzling course record 10-under 62 on Thursday morning: "I guess the wind might have got up a little bit more for us in the afternoon, but still ... 62 on that golf course is great going.

"When I was sitting over breakfast I saw he'd birdied the first six holes and I was like - 'oh, nice'.

"When you see someone at 10 under par, especially when it's Adam Scott at the top... it's hard to give Adam Scott seven shot lead with three rounds to go.

But with 50kmh winds predicted to lash the Royal Sydney layout on Friday afternoon, McIlroy is hoping to make up ground in more benign morning conditions.

"It feels like the winds starting to pick up already, you can feel the weather moving in," he said.

"Depending on what happens tomorrow, I'll try and go out there and shoot a good score and see what happens tomorrow afternoon for those guys."

Author(s)