The Guardian · US news · Original story
Rory McIlroy lets driver fly but putts go awry with Open hopes in balance
World No 2 was in full flow off the tee but off colour on the greens and knows he needs to make a charge on moving day
One of the sweetest sounds in sport is the elongated swoosh that comes as Rory McIlroy’s driver connects with his ball. Really, it is a beautiful thing. You imagine the impact will be a violent clank. Instead it is more like a yogi softly exhaling having found nirvana.
But as McIlroy stepped on the 414-yard par-four 9th on Friday, he was still searching for inner peace. He was plus one for the tournament. The leaderboard was turning a sea of red. And he had substantial ground to make up.
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Sean Ingle at Royal Birkdale · Fri, Jul 17, 2026, 10:58 AM
US news | The Guardian
World No 2 was in full flow off the tee but off colour on the greens and knows he needs to make a charge on moving day
One of the sweetest sounds in sport is the elongated swoosh that comes as Rory McIlroy’s driver connects with his ball. Really, it is a beautiful thing. You imagine the impact will be a violent clank. Instead it is more like a yogi softly exhaling having found nirvana.
But as McIlroy stepped on the 414-yard par-four 9th on Friday, he was still searching for inner peace. He was plus one for the tournament. The leaderboard was turning a sea of red. And he had substantial ground to make up.
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