'A lot of golf left to play' says Rory McIlroy after battle with Masters conditions 

The Holywood man settled for a 1-under par 71 in Thursday’s first round at Augusta. 

Rory McIlroy hits his tee shot on the ninth hole during the first round at the Masters . Pic: AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Fighting with the wind and his own inability to take advantage of Augusta’s scoreable par-5, Rory McIlroy settled for a 1-under par 71 in Thursday’s first round of the Masters, leaving him six shots behind leader Bryson DeChambeau and five behind playing partner Scottie Scheffler.

“I held it together well. It was a little scrappy,” McIlroy said. “The conditions are tricky. … It's hard to commit to where the wind direction is at times.