Frustration and the media are part of golf, Rory

AMID a palpable buzz of anticipation around Killarney yesterday, it was Ireland’s rising superstar, Rory McIlroy who was given the baton to kick-start a celebration of our new found status in world golf.

A very promising start of four birdies in the first 10 holes should have been the catalyst for a round that most players could only hope to achieve on their best day. At the very least, it should have been the platform for a solid opening round that would have kept Rory at or around the top of the leaderboard. Instead we got a final eight holes littered with some of the most erratic play and inconsistent shot-making I have witnessed in his short career.

Looking on, he seemed quite bemused with some of the shots he was hitting. He fought hard to stay in contention but in the end it all caught up with him and he cut a very dejected figure walking off the 18th green after signing for a double bogey and a round of 70. For most mortals that would signify a great round of golf but for Rory it hurt.