Rory McIlroy plays RBC Canadian Open 1st round ‘groggy’ from wine, shoots 66

Rory McIlroy found himself in an unusual predicament during Thursday’s opening round of the 2024 RBC Canadian Open. The four-time major champion was admittedly feeling the effects of his caddie Harry Diamond’s birthday celebration the night before.

Teeing off on the 10th hole at 7:40 a.m. ET, McIlroy’s early struggles were understandable. However, the slow start didn’t stop him from carding an impressive 4-under 66, demonstrating his resilience and skill even in less-than-ideal conditions.

“A bit of a slow start,” Rory McIlroy told Golfweek. “Harry’s birthday dinner last night so I had a couple of glasses of wine. I was probably feeling a little groggy when I woke up.”

Despite a busy personal schedule and limited practice – he had only hit about 150 balls in the previous week – McIlroy arrived at Hamilton Golf & Country Club determined to make his mark.

His recent form has been solid, including back-to-back wins at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and the Wells Fargo Championship, followed by a respectable T12 at the PGA Championship.

Rory McIlroy’s Performance 

The opening round at Hamilton began sluggishly for McIlroy, who played the back nine first and managed to string together nine consecutive pars. He attributed part of his cautious play to unfamiliarity with the course layout, having only seen the front nine during the pro-am.

“I was sort of happy enough to get out of there in even par and not make a bogey,” McIlroy explained.

His round included some lighthearted moments, such as when he drove his tee shot into a hospitality tent on the par-5 17th, prompting a fan to shout, “You need a wristband to get in here.” Despite these distractions, Rory McIlroy maintained his focus and composure.

As Rory McIlroy transitioned to the front nine, he began to find his rhythm. He birdied the first hole after sticking a wedge to four feet, breaking the seal on what would become a strong finish.

Rory McIlroy added three more birdies on the front nine, bringing his total score to 66 for the day. Reflecting on his performance, McIlroy said:

“Once I got that nine holes out of the way I knew there were some chances on that front side and played probably much better on that front side.”

Hamilton Golf & Country Club, where Rory McIlroy had previously shot a 61 to win by seven strokes in 2019, presented new challenges following a recent renovation.

“You can’t be quite as aggressive with the second shots,” McIlroy noted. “There are a lot of run-offs and sections of the greens that you have to be careful about.”

Despite these challenges and his less-than-ideal start, McIlroy’s performance in the first round was commendable. He hit all but two greens in regulation and managed to avoid any bogeys, a feat he found particularly satisfying.

“At the start of the year, I was making some big numbers, and there was a lot of volatility on the scorecard,” McIlroy remarked. “But to play bogey-free rounds is really nice again.”

Heading into the second round, McIlroy sits four shots off the leader David Skinns. His ability to overcome both physical fatigue and course unfamiliarity underscores the remarkable talent and determination that have defined his career.

In the end, while the caddie’s birthday celebration may have led to a sluggish start, it was Rory McIlroy’s unwavering focus and skill that shone through, setting him up for a promising run at the RBC Canadian Open.