McIlroy promises to rediscover fizz

It is extremely rare for Rory McIlroy’s caddy to walk into the scorer’s hut on the first day of any tournament enquiring of the cut-off mark.

But that was the scenario after day one of the UBS Hong Kong Open, with McIlroy’s shock score of a three-over-par 73 only the second time he has recorded an over par figure in 19 rounds at the stately Fanling course.

JP Fitzgerald was informed McIlroy was lying in a share of 93rd place in the 144-player field and two strokes outside the cut.