Rory McIlroy appeared to crumble under the weight of expectation as the Northern Irishman admitted his hopes of winning the British Open are all but over after an opening round eight-over par on Thursday.
The British Open is being played in Northern Ireland at Royal Portrush, where McIlroy set the course record as a 16-year-old. Given the circumstances, hopes were high McIlroy would end his near five-year wait for his fifth major title.
However, now it appears over before it barely begun. The four-time major champion's challenge faltered from the off as he struck his tee shot at the first out of bounds in posting a quadruple-bogey eight.
McIlroy regained his composure to get back to three over par before an equally damaging finish as a double bogey at the 16 and triple bogey at the last left him with a huge task on Friday just to make the cut.
"I guess when you play your first and last holes in a combined seven-over par, you're sort of starting on the back foot," said McIlroy.
Huge crowds gathered round the first hole for a glimpse of the local hero as the Open returned to Northern Ireland for the first time since 1951. However, McIlroy played down the impact of pressure on his terrible start.
"I was nervous on the first tee, but not nervous because of [playing at home]. Nervous because it's an Open Championship. I usually get nervous on the first tee anyway, regardless of where it is."
McIlroy slipped to five over with another bogey at the third, but repaired some of the damage with birdies at seven and nine.
Six pars followed before the wheels came off again with a three-putt from six feet on the 16th.
"The one that I'm disappointed about most is the little short putt on 16. That was inexcusable," added McIlroy.
"Tee shots like the first happen, you can get one riding on the wind a little too much, that's fine. But lapses of concentration like that, I feel like I've done a really good job over the last few years of being more with it and realising just keep a cool head.
"There I didn't. I sort of hit it on the run and missed it. And if I look back at today, it's probably the shot I'm disappointed about the most."
McIlroy hit the course record of 61 at Portrush prior to its overhaul for the Open when he was just 16 and knows he will need some of that magic on Friday to ensure he hangs around for the weekend.
"I definitely think if I can put the ball in the fairway tomorrow I can shoot a good enough score to be around for the weekend," he said.
"Obviously I'm pretty sure anyone starting with a 79 in this golf tournament doesn't think about winning at this point.
"But I think I can go out there and shoot something in the mid-60s, be around for the weekend, and then try to play good from there."
McIlroy was not the only player to struggle on Thursday, with former Open champion David Duval hitting a 13 on the par-five seventh in a first round of 19-over par.
Duval's Open win in 2001 ensures he is invited back as a former champion despite his world ranking plummeting to 2,080 and spending the majority of his time working for television as a golf commentator.
"It's not reflective of anything I've been doing it's just one of those awful nightmare scenarios," Duval said on his travails at the seventh.
"Honestly, I stood here starting this week figuring I am playing really well and if some things happen I could make top 20. Obviously I'll be in the last place."
Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)
Nancy Ajram
(In2Musica)
Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier
Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August
Group A
Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar
Group B
UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
UAE group fixtures
Sunday Feb 23, 9.30am, v Iran
Monday Feb 25, 1pm, v Kuwait
Tuesday Feb 26, 9.30am, v Saudi
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza, Rohan Mustafa, Alishan Sharafu, Ansh Tandon, Vriitya Aravind, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Karthik Meiyappan, Basil Hameed, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Ayaz, Zahoor Khan, Chirag Suri, Sultan Ahmed
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The%20specs
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Types of policy
Term life insurance: this is the cheapest and most-popular form of life cover. You pay a regular monthly premium for a pre-agreed period, typically anything between five and 25 years, or possibly longer. If you die within that time, the policy will pay a cash lump sum, which is typically tax-free even outside the UAE. If you die after the policy ends, you do not get anything in return. There is no cash-in value at any time. Once you stop paying premiums, cover stops.
Whole-of-life insurance: as its name suggests, this type of life cover is designed to run for the rest of your life. You pay regular monthly premiums and in return, get a guaranteed cash lump sum whenever you die. As a result, premiums are typically much higher than one term life insurance, although they do not usually increase with age. In some cases, you have to keep up premiums for as long as you live, although there may be a cut-off period, say, at age 80 but it can go as high as 95. There are penalties if you don’t last the course and you may get a lot less than you paid in.
Critical illness cover: this pays a cash lump sum if you suffer from a serious illness such as cancer, heart disease or stroke. Some policies cover as many as 50 different illnesses, although cancer triggers by far the most claims. The payout is designed to cover major financial responsibilities such as a mortgage or children’s education fees if you fall ill and are unable to work. It is cost effective to combine it with life insurance, with the policy paying out once if you either die or suffer a serious illness.
Income protection: this pays a replacement income if you fall ill and are unable to continue working. On the best policies, this will continue either until you recover, or reach retirement age. Unlike critical illness cover, policies will typically pay out for stress and musculoskeletal problems such as back trouble.
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
