Car crash as Rory McIlroy misses on home turf

Sport has always been about its sounds as much as its sights and the opening day of this year’s Irish Open, which is held for the first time in 76 years at a scenic but unsettled Royal County Down, brought that home yet again.

“Oh my God,” said one woman as her eyes caught sight of Rory McIlroy’s score on one of those mobile boards that follow golfers about. The world number one, the man who had bent the ear of so many of his famous golf pals to come and play here this week, was eight over par.

The day’s main story, summed up in one astonished gasp.