Rory McIlroy's opening round at Royal Troon was fraught with difficulties, including two significant double bogeys on the iconic eighth and 11th holes, known as the Postage Stamp and the Railway, respectively. His struggles began early, with his tee shot at the Postage Stamp rolling into a bunker and requiring multiple attempts to escape. Later, a wayward drive on the 11th found the railway tracks, compounding his troubles. McIlroy expressed surprise at the course's difficulty, particularly the back nine, and noted that the conditions were more punishing than anticipated.

The unexpected southward wind at Royal Troon threw many players off their game, including McIlroy. Typically, the course plays with the wind at the players' backs on the front nine and against them on the back nine. However, this pattern was reversed in the first round, leading to higher scores and general discontent among the participants. McIlroy and other players were caught off guard by the intensity and direction of the wind, which was contrary to the conditions during the practice rounds.

Despite the disappointing start, McIlroy remains focused on the immediate task of making the cut and continuing in the tournament. He acknowledged the need to adjust his strategy based on the day's conditions and remains hopeful of a better performance in the subsequent rounds. McIlroy's resilience in the face of adversity underscores his determination to overcome the challenges at Royal Troon and improve his standing in the coming days.