Rory’s American football antics bring the laughs

RORY McILROY’S newfound love of gridiron has raised a chuckle.

The 21-year-old revealed after his opening-round 65 that he had gone to the mall the previous evening to buy an oval ball and that he and his buddies had then had to cut short their game in the street outside their rented home after a neighbour complained about the noise.

The world number nine said he wanted to learn more about the game but it was the picture McIlroy posted on Twitter of himself winding up for a big throw upfield that started the slagging.