Rory McIlroy opened up on his disastrous start to the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, admitting he "tries to forget" about his first round at the event as Graeme McDowell places his bets on

That feat was last achieved by Tiger Woods in 2005, when Woods won his fourth Green Jacket in a sudden‑death playoff at Augusta and then went on to dominate The Open at St Andrews, firing rounds of 66‑67‑71‑70 for a 274 (−14) total to win by five strokes.

The hometown hero is back at Royal Portrush, but Rory McIlroy was poor off the tee again as the Open Championship rolls on.

Rain lashed from above, North Atlantic winds pummeled from the side, and thousands of excited, umbrella-wielding shapes swirled amongst it all, yet the man at the eye of the storm remained entirely unflustered.

Rory McIlroy fought hard against errors in his game to card a one-under-par opening round at Royal Portrush, sitting just three shots back of the lead in The Open Championship

Current Masters champion Rory McIlroy was left to rue the controversial rule at Royal Portrush's first hole that also caught out the Northern Irishman six years ago at The Open

Rory McIlroy has been warned that he may struggle to handle the "weight of a country on his back" as he bids to win The Open Championship on home soil at Royal Portrush

McIlroy cards opening 70 to trail leaders by three shots as Portrush go-slow sees rounds taking close to six hours