Rory McIlroy's Open hopes blown away at windy Troon by a disastrous 78

Making the cut, as McIlroy admitted afterwards, is the height of his ambitions now.

Rory McIlroy drove out of bounds on the 11th as he made a poor start to the 152nd Open (Jane Barlow/PA)

“All week Rory, all week,” shouted one punter as the four-time major winner smacked his opening tee shot straight down the fairway. It was nine minutes after ten on a wet and windy first morning at the 152nd Open Championship. McIlroy’s challenge was a busted flush by lunchtime.

Four holes. That’s all it took for his bid to win a first major title in ten years to drift off into the misty gloom decorating this course along the Firth of Clyde. He had arrived at the iconic par-three Postage Stamp 8th hole at even par. By the time he left the 11th green he was sitting at five-over.