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Rory McIlroy stumbled out of the gates Thursday in the first round of the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club in Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland, carding a seven-over 78.
According to Justin Ray of The Athletic, that marks McIlroy's worst round at a major since he shot a 79 in the first round of the 2019 British Open at Royal Portrush.
Ray noted that it has been a tough go for much of the field thus far at Royal Troon, as it is on pace to be the highest-scoring first round at an Open Championship since 2013 at Muirfield:
McIlroy failed Thursday to bounce back from the disappointment of his final round at the U.