Conservative McIlroy relies on irons to unlock Sawgrass

Rory McIlroy had never made the cut or finished under par in any of his three previous appearances in the Players Championship over the TPC course at Sawgrass, but he never put a foot wrong in yesterday’s opening round of the 2013 tournament.

A superb six-under-par 66 left him three strokes behind the unknown American Roberto Castro, who equalled the record of Greg Norman and Fred Couples with a remarkable round of 63, but that didn’t worry the world No 2 in the slightest. McIlroy had decisively proven to himself and his fans and critics alike that the famous Pete Dye design no longer held any fears for him and that he was in the kind of form to make a serious challenge for the coveted title and the winner’s cheque of $1.71 million, the highest on the US PGA Tour.

McIlroy began his round at the 10th and picked up birdies at the 11th, 12th, 14th and 16th before gaining a huge psychological boost with a two at the dreaded par-three 17th, famous for its island green. He duly reached the turn in five under and settled happily for a homeward 35 that contained just one birdie, at the par-five second, his 11th.

“I was giving myself plenty birdie chances and if I can keep doing that over the next three days, I should be there or thereabouts going into Sunday,” said McIlroy. “I kept my ball in play for the most part and didn’t make any stupid mistakes. I feel good with my game and I’m happy and it’s showing in my golf. I adopted a conservative strategy off the tee because my iron play has been good so even if I’m a little further back, I’m still giving myself chances for birdies.”

To make it an even better day for the three-strong Irish contingent, Graeme McDowell, recent winner of the Heritage tournament in North Carolina, shot a two-under-par 70, while Pádraig Harrington, still wielding the belly putter, got off to a dream start with a 15ft putt for an eagle three at the second. Sadly, he quickly undid all that by hooking his tee shot into a water hazard at the next hole to hand both shots back.

McDowell’s round could have been even more impressive for he was a couple better off with four to play. Out in 35, a hat-trick of birdies from the third moved G-Mac to four under, but he dropped shots at the sixth and at the long ninth, where he ‘thinned’ his third shot through the green.

“It was a decent start,” he claimed. “The greens were quite crusty and I struggled with the pace. I got stuck between clubs at the last and didn’t commit to the shot. All in all, though, it was a good ball-striking performance, I’m happy with what I’m doing and 70 doesn’t put me out of the tournament.

“My long game is in good shape, I’m scrambling well and feel like I’m playing well enough to compete. Three decent rounds and a really good one should have me there or thereabouts.”