‘It felt like a bit of a scramble’: Rory McIlroy laments mistake-ridden opening round at The Masters

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy didn’t have the easiest first day at The Masters as the four-time Major champion carded an even par 72 at Augusta National Golf Club.

In total, McIlroy scored five birdies, three bogeys and a horrific double-bogey on the par-four seventh hole that resulted from a foul second shot flying into the gallery – followed by a chip falling into the bunker and a lip out on his bogey putt.

After handing in his scorecard, he spoke to Sky Sports at Butler Cabin about the tough round he’d just had.

“To be honest, it felt like a bit of a scramble all day. I missed a few more tee shots and pretty much paid the price on 7 and 17,” McIlroy explained.

‘It was also a bit sloppy in some other areas. I made enough birdies and I usually always do, it was just keeping the mistakes off the map and today I didn’t quite do that.

Mistakes early in his round, like this wild second shot on the seventh hole, sometimes cost him

McIlroy will try to recover in a group with Tom Kim and Sam Burns teeing off at 10:42

“But, you know, I saved an even par and [it’s a] fast handling from one day to the next and we’ll be back at it tomorrow.’

McIlroy then gave insight into what he’ll tell himself going into tomorrow’s second round – saying he’ll tell himself to keep his cool for the next 54 holes.

“I really tried to stay even today, just try to be patient,” said the Irishman. ‘[There’s] three guys up there at -7 and you feel way behind them.

“But there are still 54 holes of golf left and a lot can happen, the weather is coming and everything. Hopefully we’ll get some decent conditions tomorrow morning, I can go out and play better than today and try to get myself back into the tournament.’

McIlroy, along with Tom Kim and Sam Burns, will tee off at 10:42am ET (3:42pm GMT) for Friday’s second round.