Ian Poulter took an early lead on day one of the RBC Heritage with a seven-under-par round of 64 as Rory McIlroy had another day to forget.
Just four days after McIlroy was six-over for his front nine on the final day of the Charles Schwab Challenge, the Northern Irishman was left eight shots off the pace after an error-strewn round.
Poulter, meanwhile, was critical of his own play despite sharing the overnight lead with American Mark Hubbard.
“I feel that I didn’t hit that well off the tee so I need to go straight to the range and address a few leaky right tee shots,” he said of his round in which he did not card a bogey or miss a putt within 10 feet of the hole.
“But my iron play was pretty solid. I holed out really well from inside seven feet and it’s obviously good to finish with two birdies on the last two holes. Any time you shoot seven-under-par around this golf course, it’s obviously a pretty solid day.”
Fellow Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick was back in the clubhouse on five-under while Matt Wallace, who had missed the cut last week, was a further two shots back.
McIlroy admitted his round had been “a bit of a struggle” as his 72 followed a 74 on Sunday.
“I was missing tee shots,” said the world no1. “It got a little better towards the end. But if you’re in any way in two minds about what to do off the tees here… it can bite you.
"I didn’t get it in play enough to give myself shots or looks at hitting it close into the greens or making birdies. I’m going to see if I can straighten it out.”
