Rory McIlroy has a spring in his step after fighting finish to first round

The Northern Irishman was positive despite a frustrating start to his latest quest to reclaim the Claret Jug.

Rory McIlroy took encouragement from his fighting finish after recording a level-par first-round 71 at the Open on Thursday.

The Northern Irishman endured a frustrating start to his latest quest to reclaim the Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool with a mixed round featuring three birdies and three bogeys.

It might even have been worse after he found a greenside bunker at the par-five 18th and needed two shots to escape the sand trap.

Rory McIlroy
McIlroy was pleased to save par on the 18th (Richard Sellers/PA)

Yet he held his nerve to save par from 10 feet and keep himself within five strokes of joint-leaders Tommy Fleetwood, Emiliano Grillo and Christo Lamprecht.

“You are just hoping to make par somehow and get out of there,” said McIlroy of the final hole.

“I got lucky because that ball could have gone into a deeper part of my footprints and I could have been there all night. It was a really good par in the end.

“I was probably hoping for a bit more at the start of the day but, overall, two over through 12 – to get it back to even for the day, I’m pretty pleased with that.

“I could have let that round get away from me but I didn’t with the two birdies on the back nine.”

McIlroy, who is bidding to end a nine-year major drought this week, believes he has given himself a platform to build on in the coming days.

The 34-year-old, champion last time the Open was held at Hoylake in 2014, said: “I didn’t really get it going on the front nine. I missed a few putts.

“A few putts started to go in on the back nine, which is nice to see. Hopefully I’ve got my eye in now and I can build on that over the next three days.

“I needed to stay patient out there. It wasn’t easy but I am still right in there.

“I need to shoot something in the 60s tomorrow and I will be right there for the weekend.”->

Updated: November 29, 2023
The Open Championship 2023
Date: 20th July - 23rd July, 2023
Location: Royal Liverpool GC, Hoylake, England
Purse: $16,500,000
All Event Posts
Who are the favourites to win the 2024 Open Championship?, Open Harman-ee, Behind the Architectural Curtain – Royal Liverpool Golf Club Pt.1, Shane Lowry determined to win another major as Open gets under way, Will the penultimate hole prove decisive?, Weather or not, The Open starts today!, Royal Liverpool member Matthew Jordan gets 151st Open under way at Hoylake, Matthew Jordan uses home advantage to good effect with fast start at 151st Open, Amateur champion Christo Lamprecht makes bright start on his Open debut, Tommy Fleetwood having time of his life as he shares early lead at Open, Wyndham Clark sees funny side as iPad intervenes to hamper Open progress, Tommy Fleetwood driven on by home support as he takes share of Open lead, More major misery for Justin Thomas after first round to forget at 151st Open, Errant Jon Rahm shot strikes spectator and costs him bogey at 12th hole, Rory McIlroy has a spring in his step after fighting finish to first round, Tommy Fleetwood hails ‘amazing’ support after strong start to Open at Hoylake, Rory McIlroy out to climb Open leaderboard after first-round fightback, Open officials alter bunkers after complaints as Brian Harman surges into lead, Early starters battle overcast conditions as Tommy Fleetwood shares Open lead, Brian Harman sets Open pace as Rory McIlroy and Max Homa start well, Open Championship targeted by Just Stop Oil protesters, Brian Harman sets formidable Open target with flawless second round, Four arrested after Just Stop Oil protesters disrupt second day of the Open, Tyrrell Hatton’s Open chances dashed by quadruple bogey on final hole, Rory McIlroy feels he still has chance of winning 151st Open despite Friday’s 70, Brian Harman hunting major breakthrough after surging clear / Scores, Tommy Fleetwood vows to give chase as Open history favours Brian Harman, Facing fear at Royal Liverpool, McIlroy’s Mission, Brian Harman hoping history repeats itself after claiming huge halfway lead, Rickie Fowler’s storming second round gives hope to chasing pack at the Open, Tyrrell Hatton says on-course outbursts are not his way of trying ‘to be funny’, Jon Rahm shoots stunning 63 to surge into contention at The Open, Jon Rahm hails best ever round of links golf as 63 puts him in Open contention, Brian Harman maintains five-shot lead heading into final round / Scores, Small in size, big on heart, Scottie Scheffler’s impressive run set to end despite strong finish at the Open, Brian Harman dreaming of Open glory after taking five-shot lead into final day, Brian Harman on course to claim maiden major crown at 151st Open Championship, Rory McIlroy turns attention to Ryder Cup as wait for fifth major continues, Brian Harman holds nerve to win Open Championship by six shots at rainy Hoylake / Scores, A closer look at 2023 Open champion Brian Harman, Brian Harman reveals spectator heckle helped spur him on to Open glory