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Jul 17th, 2019
The Hole that caught Rory out
The first at Royal Portrush
Words: GolfPunk Photography: Getty Images
Hughie's is the 416 yards, par 4 first hole on the Royal Portrush course. There is out of bounds on both sides of the hole with most golfers most concerned with that on the right. However, as there are bunkers on the right and left of the fairway at 262 yards and 291 yards respectively, most pros will go with an iron.
An iron is what Rory took but pulled it a long way left, sadly so far left that it took a big bounce and careered out of bounds. Fearing the worst, McIlroy took a provisional off the tee and again pulled it, this time just finding the thick rough.
A nightmare start for the young Northern Irishman was compounded when he hacked out of the rough into an unplayable lie in the bracken just short of the green. A reasonable chip and a weak putt later and a shell-shocked looking McIlroy walked off the green four over par after a horrendous 8!
