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McIlroy: a morning to forget. Presseye/Kevin Scott/INPHO

Rory McIlroy had an absolute nightmare at the Irish Open

Michael Hoey and Graeme McDowell are the best of the Irish on day one.

Updated 13.05

RORY MCILROY HAD a nightmare start to the sold-out Irish Open at Royal County Down.

McIlroy finished his round dead last after shooting a rare nine-over-par 80 and, barring a miracle, will miss the cut for the weekend.

Playing with Rickie Fowler (E) and the equally dreadful Martin Kaymer (+8), the world number one opened with a par three on the 10th hole.

But he then bogeyed 11, 15, 16, 17 and 18 as his putter went cold in a horrific run.

It didn’t get much better after the turn as he bogeyed the fourth and fifth holes, and then the seventh and eighth, to slump to rock bottom.

Only a 10-foot putt to save par on the ninth hole prevented his day from getting any worse, drawing a generous cheer from the gallery.

Denmark’s Soren Kjeldesen is the early leader on -3 – TWELVE shots ahead of McIlroy.

Michael Hoey leads the early Irish challenge on level par while Graeme McDowell is a shot further back on +1 after shooting 72 on Thursday.

Check out the latest scores here >

– First published 11.09

‘I want to show my kids that Dad still is a great player as opposed to used to be’

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