Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods endured miserable first rounds at the British Open on Thursday with American J.B. Holmes ending in the lead after shooting a 5-under-par 66 at Royal Portrush.
McIlroy disappointed the home support with the home favorite carding an 8-over-par 79, while a stiff-looking Woods was nothing like the player who won the Masters in April as he labored to 7-over.
All eyes were on McIlroy as the Open returned to Northern Ireland for the first time in 68 years, but the buzz around his appearance on course quickly disappeared with a sickening quadruple bogey at the first hole.