Swings and roundabouts.
When Rory McIlroy was down in the dumps, Graeme McDowell was flying high. When Graeme McDowell was having his own mini-meltdown, Rory McIlroy was steadying the ship.
For a while at least. But then it all went haywire for McIlroy again.
Fancied by many coming into it, big things were expected of course record holder Rory McIlroy in the 148th Open Championship. He was chasing his tail though from the minute the first ball was struck.
That pulled to the left and entered an internal out of bounds zone. Unlucky many would say, given that internal Out of Bounds zones are a rarity as well as the fact that Royal Portrush's first no-go is only 20 yards from the fairway.
McIlroy was punished harshly, as were many other golfers, with the first hole turning into a proverbial disaster for the Hollywood native. He took an eight there, as his odds drifted from nines out to 33s in an instant.
https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/1151787399376232449
Things were about to go from bad to worse though. He bogeyed the third to sit on +5 after just three holes of his first round.
Nightmare stuff.
Meanwhile a couple of holes ahead of him, Graeme McDowell was plotting the way around his home course like we know he can. His local knowledge looked to be paying off a treat as he birdied two and seven to go out in 34. A birdie on 14 had him on -3 and without a blot on the copybook.
https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/1151829564374605824
G-Mac's world turned upside down from there though. The Northern Irish man went on to bogey 15, 17 before finishing with an absolute calamity.
His tee-shot went out of bounds on the last and unable to find it in the allotted three minutes, McDowell had to be carted back to the tee-box. He made bogey with his second ball though, holing out for a triple bogey seven.
From -3 to
+2 in less than an hour. Tough to take.
Rory McIlroy meanwhile was making up on some lost ground. He birdied seven and nine and played solid if not spectacular golf on the back nine.
Up until the 16th hole that was.
Something went wrong standing over a four foot putt for par as McIlroy's effort proceeded to lip out. With no more than 10 inches to go, he carelessly rounded the cup again before tapping in for a double bogey 6.
When it's not your day, it's not your day. Watch the three putt here.
https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/1151858938591240192
His woes weren't over there though. A couple of careless shots on the 18th sent him into the long grass and he finished up with a triple bogey, ending his day on +8.
At least Shane Lowry is going well.
