Rory McIlroy had to settle for a one-under-par opening round at the Memorial Tournament in Ohio after more tee trouble saw him drop a shot at the last. The Masters champion is playing only his sixth regular PGA Tour event of the year at Muirfield Village, hosted by 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus.
McIlroy's Round in Detail
The Northern Irishman, who tied for seventh at last month's PGA Championship, continues to tailor his schedule to personal circumstances, with focus soon turning towards the upcoming US Open at Shinnecock Hills, New York. McIlroy found water at the third hole for a double bogey but responded with a run of three birdies to reach the turn at one under.
A hooked tee shot off the 13th put the 37-year-old in deep rough on the left, but a fine recovery saw him save par. A superb approach inside two feet at the 14th set up another birdie. At the par-five 15th, McIlroy sent his second shot bouncing into the wall of the Nicklaus Club tent and back down a slope, but he chipped to the edge of the green and made par.
The 18th saw the world number two hit another wayward tee shot into the left rough, narrowly missing the water. He failed to roll in a seven-foot putt to save par and signed for a 71.
"I felt like I played pretty well, for the most part, especially after making that double bogey on the third hole, to play the rest of the round in three under was good," McIlroy said in his post-round interview. "It is a tough course, you have to concentrate on every shot. The greens are very firm already, very fast; get yourself above the hole, it is very tricky. I felt like I did well again. I would like to hit a few more fairways, give myself a few more chances from the short grass, but overall, not a bad score to build from."
Leaderboard Update
Tommy Fleetwood was in a group of three to set the clubhouse lead at five under, alongside American duo Wyndham Clark and JJ Spaun, the 2025 US Open champion. Canada's Nick Taylor was at four under, recovering from a double bogey at the par-five seventh. Justin Rose is a further shot back alongside Sam Burns, with Ireland's Shane Lowry in another group at two under.
