Swing king Rory makes slow start with new clubs
Just three days after the heralding of McIlroy’s signing with Nike, he played so poorly as to leave company officials as crimson-faced as his new driver in signing for a three over par 75.
Included in McIlroy’s score were two double bogeys including driving out-of-bounds, at his 12th hole while he hit just five of 14 fairways on the National course in Abu Dhabi.
McIlroy then spent much of the afternoon working on the range under the watchful eye of coach, Michael Bannon before returning to his hotel trailing eight shots behind the leading duo of England’s Justin Rose and Irish Open champion Jamie Donaldson.
World number two Tiger Woods, who is competing alongside McIlroy, looked just as rusty also in his first event of 2013, signing for a 72.
It is the first time McIlroy has recorded two double bogeys in a round since missing the halfway cut with a second day 79 in last May’s Memorial event in Dublin, Ohio.
McIlroy had also recorded two doubles on the first day of ‘Jack’s event’, staged a fortnight prior to his US Open defence. As well, McIlroy’s round was his highest-ever around the National course in Abu Dhabi and two strokes more than his previous poorest score of 73 on his debut in the event in 2008.
“There is still a little rust in my game because if I’d been tournament sharp I would have shaved a few shots off my score,” said McIlroy. “The clubs are a little different for sure but when you are on the range with launch monitors and stuff, you can just wheel away and everything is fine. It’s also a little different on the course and I certainly learned a few things out there.
“So it’s still a learning process but I’ve got here and then four weeks off to work on my game and get everything ready for the States.”
If there was any comfort for McIlroy it was learning girlfriend, Caroline Wozniacki breezed into the third round of the Australian Open in Melbourne. “Yes, good win from what I hear so very pleased for her,” said McIlroy.
Ballyclare’s Gareth Maybin is the best of the Irish with a 71 while Pádraig Harrington, Michael Hoey and Peter Lawrie signed for level par 72s.
Hoey was lucky to take his place in the UAE field after slipping on steps at his hotel pool on Monday and falling heavily on his lower back. And Paul McGinley returned to competition two days after his Ryder Cup captaincy appointment but shot a disappointing 76.
The Gleneagles captain revealed among the hundreds of text messages he received was a surprise text from Tyrone manager, Mickey Harte. “Mickey’s a man I’ve never met but a man I’ve greatly admired,” said McGinley. “So I sent him a message back saying I looked forward to meeting up but I’m going to have to wait until after Donegal play Tyrone in the first round of the Championship!”
