Rory McIlroy’s start to his first round at The Players Championship was a watery mess. On the 18th hole on Thursday, McIlroy put two balls in the water, both off the tee.
It was not reminiscent of 2020, when he won the tournament,
On both shots off the 18th tee, he seemed to be trying to draw the ball around the left-curving fairway. But on both instances, the ball hooked too far to the left and ended up in the water. Because of the brutal showing on 18, McIlroy was +7 after nine holes. He wasn’t the only star to struggle at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Tony Finau was also plummeting down the leaderboard after nine.
Here’s a look at both brutal shots.
The champ is down. Rory McIlroy makes a quadruple bogey on No. 18. pic.twitter.com/dIfMf72WxG
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 11, 2021
Here’s a look at the scoring of the gaffes.
You hate to see this, but this just happened. Rory T-73 (+7) after 9 holes today.
On hole no. 18 – Rory went quadruple bogey.Shot 1 322 yds to water, 135 yds to hole
Shot 2 Penalty
Drop in tee box, 409 yds to hole
Shot 3 231 yds to water, 184 yds to hole
Shot 4 Penalty#Florida pic.twitter.com/2y21wXXzXV— Dead Solid Perfect (@Deadsolidp) March 11, 2021
That left golf fans to mercilessly mock the McIlroy.
— JB (@therealJB9) March 11, 2021
I alaays wished i played golf like Rory Mcilroy, on this 18th he is playing like me!!! Put 2 in the water
— rob (@scholarrob) March 11, 2021
Rory fighting the pull-hooks like your boy. Two water balls on 18. Big yikes.
— Mark Harris (@itismarkharris) March 11, 2021
Have watched Rory on two holes so far. Hole 10 and Hole 18. Double bogey on 10 and 2 shots into the water on 18. The defending champ isn’t going to be around on the weekend to defend his title
— Mike Cohen (@Sir_MikeyC) March 11, 2021
Big case of the 🪝 today
— 𝔾𝕖𝕠𝕣𝕘𝕖 (@georgestw1tter) March 11, 2021
Brutal start.
