McIlroy falls to the Blue Monster

Rory McIlroy confessed that the strain of getting to world number one took its toll on him as he crashed to his first over par score for five months in the WGC-Cadillac Championship at a blustery TPC Blue Monster.

Winds gusting over 25 mph spreadeagled the 74-man field and McIlroy could only manage a one over par 73 to finish the day tied for 35th and seven shots behind pacesetters Adam Scott and Jason Dufner.

“To be honest I felt a little flat out there,” McIlroy said after his first over par score since the third round of last October’s Kolon Korea Open. “I shouldn’t, it’s a World Golf Championship, but just felt a little flat.