Apparently a few days of rest was not the cure for Rory McIlroy.
After a surprising missed cut at the BMW PGA Championship, Rory McIlroy struggled to a 9-over 80 in the opening round of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, where the Ulsterman is also serving as tournament host.
Conditions were difficult Thursday at Royal County Down, but no one had more trouble in the early going than McIlroy. He squared nine bogeys against nine pars, and at 9 over he was dead last in the morning wave when he finished his round, 12 shots behind Soren Kjeldsen.