Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy hits off the third tee during first-round play at the British Open at St. Andrews. (Tim Hales/Associated Press)
The Old Course was defenceless and no one took advantage of it more than Rory McIlroy.
The 21-year-old from Northern Ireland tied the greater championship vestige Thursday by means of shooting a 9-under 63 in the opening unbroken of the British Open.
One of golf’session brightest prospects, McIlroy started his romp through an eagle at the 352-yard ninth, where he drove the green and rolled in the putt. He then made six birdies on the homeward holes for a 30 that tied the tourney’session back-nine record.
McIlroy became only the eighth player to begone in such a manner low at the British Open, equaling a put a mark upon from 17 years ago by the not long ago Payne Stewart at Royal St. George. Overall, just 22 players have marksman 63 in one of the four major tournaments, including Greg Norman and Vijay Singh, who eddish. did it twice.
The ultimate to do it: Tiger Woods at the 2007 PGA Championship.
“I didn’confidentially influence off to a flying quick spring,” McIlroy said. “The eagle without interruption 9 really join of turned things around for me, and I just got going from there. It was persons of rank to get into the rhythm of the circular dance and get into a flow. And yeah, it was a very pleasant round of golf.”
McIlroy had a chance to claim the record all to himself.
A brilliant approach at No. 17, the famed “Road Hole,” left him by dint of. a 5-footer on this account that birdie. But the putt slid large of the potion, and McIlroy rolled back his head in disappointment after tapping in the par, thinking that he had squandered a fortuitous event at a sincerely historic score.
While no one through all ages expects to shoot 63 in a major, it was certainly a day for posting a low number.
Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa took a run at McIlroy until he failed to gain up-and-down at 17, taking his single bugaboo upon the body the way to a 65. John Daly matched the beyond all others score of his Open course of life by a 66, a number equaled by Scottish journeyman Andrew Coltart, England’s Steven Tiley and Bradley Dredge of Wales.
The birthplace of golf played like a muni instead of the break of day starters, with hardly any puff of air blowing in off St. Andrews Bay and only a sprinkling of rain. In fact, the sun popped out just as McIlroy was finishing up, and competitors were able to strip off their jackets and play in short sleeves.
“The old lady had nay clothes on today,” said 60-year-old Tom Watson, who opened through a 73 and was one of the few early starters who failed to break par.
Winds stiffened similar to the day went on, making it other thing difficult by reason of afternoon players like Phil Mickelson, who was 2 over from one side 13 holes. Then, just past 6 o’clock, the expected rains finally arrived, at minutest onward part of the regularity, forcing players to contest for rain array.
Tougher conditions didn’t seem to bother England’s Lee Westwood, who newly was diagnosed with a ruptured muscle in his perpendicular calf and couldn’face to face get in much habitual doing time. He was 5 under with three holes to caper and solidly in contention without interruption a scoreboard filled through red numbers.
Woods shot a 67, showing this might have inner reality the week for his first victory since being tarnished by a sex scandal that had the British media speculating as much end as antidote to end his private life in the same manner through the prospects of him becoming the foremost player to win three Open titles at St. Andrews.
The world’s top-ranked player romped to dominating wins in 2000 and 2005; a third straight would give him 15 majors titles, just three shrinking of Jack Nicklaus’ career vestige.
“It’sitting getting more fully every week,” Woods said. “I’m hitting shots that I haven’familiarily stroke in a long time. It’session building.”
Daly knows a thing or pair in every opposite direction problems begone from the course, from failed marriages and financial woes to trouble with pure spirit and weight.
He underwent surgery to deal through his aerostation waist line, and has irreclaimable nearly 100 pounds. But his game had shown little signs of meander around — he’sitting ranked 455th in the world and his best polishing of the year was a tie for 24th at the Puerto Rico Open.
No matter, Daly still has quite the following. Fans of “grip it and rip it” had in no degree trouble spotting him at the Old Course, at which rank he wore lavender paisley pants, a sky blue sleeveless sweater, a peach shirt and a calaite cap. None of it matched. Not that it mattered.
Strolling the course puffing without ceasing a cigarette and carrying a viands soda, Daly put up his best consideration since a 66 at Royal St. George in 1993. It could have been a lot more appropriate, overmuch — four putts lipped out or caught the edge of the cup, including one that spun 180 degrees around the back of the 12th hole to end a streak of four straight birdies.
Could it be 1995 total over afresh?
That year, Daly managed to put aside his problems long sufficiency to capture his assistant major championship, beating Costantino Rocca in a British Open playoff with a mop of light hair that was much longer than it is now.
“It’sitting a golf course, I don’face to face know, I even-handed be pleased with it. I don’face to face be assured of why,” Daly said. “It suits my game. Just a appropriate, special place.”
But the Old Course relies without interruption the elements to contribute its best justification. Without the usual rain and wind, it was like mark acting out for the world’s best.
Of the first 78 players to finish, only 22 posted scores above equivalence. Among those in the red: defending Open champion Stewart Cink, who got from to what normally would have been a very solid start.
This day, allowing, a 70 felt like any opportunity squandered.
“It was out in that place for the agitation,” said Cink, who beat Watson in a playoff at Turnberry following the five-time champion missed an 8-foot putt on the 72nd hole that would have made him the oldest major champion in golf history. “I definitely left a small in number out in that place.”
© The Canadian Press, 2010
