Masters winner Rory McIlroy looks disappointed after his chip on to the 14th green of the first round of the 154th Open Golf championship at Royal Birkdale comes up short.
Rory McIlroy remained hopeful he can recover from shooting a two-over-par opening round at the Open Championship that left the Masters champion seven shots off the lead.
In a rollercoaster round at Royal Birkdale, McIlroy bogeyed both par threes on the front nine and then dropped a shot at both par fives on the back nine, racking up six bogeys in total.
Four birdies, including one at the last following a sensational second shot, ensured his quest for a first Claret Jug in twelve years did not end on day one.
"Just too many stupid mistakes. But every time I made a stupid mistake, thankfully I made a birdie to sort of keep myself in it," said the Northern Irishman.
