Rory McIlroy finished his opening round of the 2023 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool on level par, leaving him in T32 and five shots off leaders Tommy Fleetwood and Christo Lamprecht.
The late finishers found the conditions tougher, and despite birdieing the second, three bogeys saw him at +2 after 13 holes.
On the 14th, the first potentially tournament changing moment came when he holed a 41-foot putt for birdie, before following it up with a four on the par 5 15th.
Another birdie opportunity came his way on par 5 18th, but his second shot left him up against the steep wall of a green side bunker and staring at bogey.... or worse.
His first attempt to get out failed and left him with a third shot that required one leg in and leg out. Somehow he made it centimetres over the edge and onto the green, before holing a clutch putt for par.
The Treacherous Open Bunkers Nearly Scuppered The Round Of Rory McIlroy
Could this be a pivotal moment?
The challenge and drama of links golf. Encapsulated by @McIlroyRory. pic.twitter.com/KqZHhIm9ZP
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 20, 2023
Momentum-changing birdie.
Rory holes a 41-foot putt on the 14th hole. pic.twitter.com/TiBKMgfpfb
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 20, 2023
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"Yeah, I wouldn't have been too happy walking off the 18th with a bogey, especially after the two shots I hit in there," McIlroy said after the round.
"It's just when you hit it into these bunkers you're sort of riding your luck at that point and hoping it's not up against one of those revetted faces. Yeah, Jon and I didn't have much of a shot with our thirds, so then you're just hoping to make par somehow and get out of there.
"Overall, 2-over through 12, to get it back to even for the day, I'm pretty pleased with that
"I didn't really get it going on the front nine. Was missing a few putts, and then missed that little one on the 8th hole.
"Had a good chance to sort of get it back at 9 and hit a good putt, but I just didn't read it right.
"A few putts started to go in on the back nine for me, which was nice to see. Hopefully I've got my eye in the line and I can build on that over the next three days."
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