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Rory McIlroy says his failure to master the blustery conditions over the opening two rounds at Royal Troon led to his early exit from this year’s Open Championship. <\/b><\/p>\n
McIlroy struggled to an opening 78 at the Scottish links course on Thursday to leave him with an uphill struggle to make the cut.<\/p>\n
The world number two’s hopes of making the weekend were then all but extinguished when he dropped six shots over a four-hole stretch between the third and the sixth on Friday, before rallying to post a 75 to end 11 over.<\/p>\n
His early horror show included a triple-bogey eight at the fourth as high winds raged around the south Ayrshire course.<\/p>\n
“I didn\u2019t adapt well at all on Thursday to the left-right wind on the back nine, and this afternoon [Friday] going out in that gusty wind on the front, it got the better of me and I felt pretty uncomfortable over a few shots,” said McIlroy.<\/p>\n
“That four-hole stretch to start off was what cost me. I got off to the worst possible start being six over through six, but then played the last 12 holes pretty well, bogey-free.”<\/p>\n
In addition to dropping three shots at the fourth, McIlroy’s horrific start also included bogeys at the third, fifth and sixth holes.<\/p>\n
As the strength of the winds began to abate, the four-time major winner posted a series of pars, followed by birdies at 14 and 16 on the inward nine.<\/p>\n
“When the wind died down a bit and it became at least manageable for me I started to play better, I hit some good shots. I played the last 12 in a couple under par and felt more comfortable over my shots.<\/p>\n
“When the wind gets that strong and you haven\u2019t played in wind like that for quite a while sometimes it\u2019s just hard to adapt.<\/p>\n
“I\u2019ll look back at the two majors where I didn\u2019t play my best [this year], both here and the Masters. The wind got the better of me on the Friday at Augusta and the wind got the better of me the last two days here.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n