Four birdies, two tantrums, one bogey and, for the second time in as many months, a fine start to a major for Rory McIlroy. No doubt, his first-round 67 in the 122nd Open here at the Country Club will essentially be remembered for him going “full Sergio” in a bunker, but it might actually have far greater importance in the context of his mission to end an eight-year barren run.
On three-under, McIlroy, 33, was holding the early clubhouse lead alongside unheralded Englishman Callum Tarren, Swede David Lingmerth and American Joel Dahmen.
Of course, this is too early for McIlroy’s multitude of admirers to pop any corks in celebration of an imminent fifth major. After all, four weeks ago he opened his USPGA challenge with a 65 and proceeded to finish eighth.
Yet there can be no doubt that McIlroy is in form and that his putting is so hot his golf glove should be made of asbestos. If the hole continues to look this big to him, then he will fill the void that stretches back to the 2014 USPGA.
Worst things first, however. On the fifth (his 14th), McIlroy’s tee-shot ended up in a horrid position in the gnarly rough above the bunker and all he could manage was a hack-out that flew into another bunker 10 yards ahead.
McIlroy got up and down from there for a Seve-like par save, but by then social media was abuzz with his antics that evoked the image of another fiery Spaniard (watch video below).
After his second shot, McIlroy angrily smashed his club into the sand, not once but twice. McIlroy later explained this rather extreme reaction. “It’s hard not to get frustrated because I’m walking up there looking at my ball and going like, just come back into the bunker,” he said. “The thickest rough on the course is around the edges of the bunkers.
“So I was sort of cursing the [US Open organisers] USGA… but it’s one of those things that happens here and not really anywhere else. You just have to accept it. But it was a driveable par four, you’re thinking of making birdie, and all of a sudden you’re scrambling for par.”
There was also the little matter of a 20-minute wait on the tee-box to raise his ire. McIlroy was fuming about the tardiness of the threeball ahead, comprising Scotts Stallings, Davis Riley and Victor Perez. “The guys in front of us were playing so slow,” he said. “They were like a hole or a hole and a half behind the group in front of them. So yeah, that was a little frustrating, too.”
This was not the only McIlroy flare-up. From the middle of the fairway on the ninth (his final hole) he pushed his approach. The club soon came flying from his hands. “My mindset was not to make a bogey and I did that for 17 holes, which was great,” he said. “But I was sort of in two minds about what shot to hit and missed the green just where you just can’t miss it… I don’t know, but it [his reaction] was almost to remind myself how much this means to me. It’s been eight years since I won a major, and I just want to get my hands on one again.”
If those incidents did not indicate the intensity of McIlroy’s intent then the words of putting coach and all-round mentor Brad Faxon just as he teed off certainly highlighted the belief in his camp. “I told Rory I thought that was the most important win of his career,” Faxon said, referencing his successful title defence at the Canadian Open on Sunday.
“He’s an emotional player, feeds off confidence. I’ve been around him for four years and yes [he does seem more ready for a major than ever]. That win was spurred by great wedge play and continued improvement in his putting. He knows how important this week is for him. I think everything’s right.”
As McIlroy strode towards the clubhouse, Tarren, the 31-year-old from Darlington, was inside the grand building still in a state of disbelief. “I’m kind of pinching myself,” he said, after his own 67, highlighted by an eagle on the eighth (his 17th) courtesy of a brilliant second with a seven-iron from 207 yards.
It is an understatement to say that Tarren has experienced an interesting journey to get here. As a teenager he spurned the chance of a contract with his local football team, accepted a scholarship and graduated from Radford University, an unfashionable college in Virginia, returned to Co Durham, failed to earn his European Tour before someone told him “Go east, young man.”
Tarren enrolled on PGA Tour China and after a couple of years that featured him at one stage running away from a storm on the North Korea border, he topped the order of merit, earning him the one and only place on the Korn Ferry Tour. Last year, he fulfilled his goal by qualifying for the PGA Tour.
The world No 445 came fifth at Puerto Rico in March but his brief time so far in the big league has been most notable for the viral fame he gained when being spooked by an alligator in the Zurich Championship in late April. But the only bared teeth he has to worry about here are those of the Country Club, itself.
“This course has a little bit of a links feel, so I’m used to playing that from back home and yeah I’m pretty comfortable,” he said. “You’ve still got to execute golf shots and be concentrated at all times. I’m just excited about the next few days.”