Rory McIlroy’s sluggish start at The Open: 72 leaves work to do at Royal Birkdale

Rory McIlroy got off to a sluggish start at the 154th Open Championship, carding a one-over-par 72 at Royal Birkdale on Thursday. The Northern Irishman, a four-time major winner and former Open champion at Hoylake in 2014, struggled to find his rhythm on the classic links layout, leaving him with work to do over the remaining three rounds.

The round in brief

McIlroy's round of 72 was characterised by inconsistent driving and a failure to capitalise on the few birdie opportunities that came his way. The opening nine saw him drop a shot early, and despite a brief rally, he could not sustain momentum. The flat stick was largely uncooperative, and the final tally left him outside the top 40 when the morning wave completed.

Context and implications

Royal Birkdale is a demanding test, especially when the wind blows. McIlroy has a mixed record here—he missed the cut in 2008 but finished tied fifth in 2017 when the Open was last held on this course. His slow start echoes recent major struggles, where he has often chased the lead from day one. The good news is that the championship is only 18 holes old; with two rounds to go before the cut, a strong second round can quickly change the narrative.

What it means

McIlroy will need to find his game quickly on Friday. The forecast suggests calmer conditions, which may aid scoring. If he can get back to level par or better by the weekend, he remains a threat. However, the slow start puts pressure on every shot. For a player of his caliber, the comeback story is still unwritten, but the margin for error is narrowing.