LAST UPDATE | 19 Jul 2018
DESPITE SOME FRUSTRATING flashes of the erratic putting that has dogged his game, Rory McIlroy carded a two-under-par 69 to end his opening round of The Open joint eighth at Carnoustie.
There were fewer upsides for Padraig Harrington on day one, however. The Dubliner, on the course where he won the Claret Jug in 2007, approached the ninth one shot under par, but carded bogeys on nine, 10, 12, 16 and a double on 18 to leave himself five over par and staring down the barrel of a missed cut.
McIlroy made the turn in level par with a sole bogey coming from the par four fifth.
The County Down man’s round threatened to turn sour when he drove into heavy rough left of the 11th fairway, but his supreme skill shone through the long grass as he pumped a 100-yard recovery to within five feet of the pin. Par was saved, but it should have been better from his position on the green as the short putt was off line.
Still, the brilliant recovery shot went some way to igniting McIlroy’s major Thursday as he birdied the 12th with a 25-foot effort. After missing a makable birdy putt on 13 he then gave himself a chance at an eagle on 14, but the 25-foot effort was off target and he had to be content with a third birdie of the round.
A solid save on 16 signalled McIlroy was more at ease with the flat stick come the end of his round. So, although he pushed his 15-foot birdie effort left again on 18, the 29-year-old will be content to end day one two-under par, three shots off early leader Kevin Kisner, on a course that is far from predictable.
For Harrington, there is a lot of work to do on the hard, dry, brown Scottish course tomorrow after he missed a long bogey putt at the last resulting in a 76 to leave him tied 129th way down the field.
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If he gets back into the Irish setup without others getting injured I’d be very surprised. Saying that if he does merit a recall then he’ll be playing fantastic rugby so for Ireland sake I hope he does.
@Chris Mc: It’s all about him I reckon cause he’s definitely got the talent/ability. As someone else pointed out here he looked in bad shape for a lot of his time at Wasps, if he really focuses on that he could challenge for a place on the squad no problem.
@The Irish Pain: wasps wanted him heavier, to be a different prop than the mobile less effective scrumager cooper wolley
Ireland now have 5 reliable TH props available . Furlong , Porter , Bealham , Ryan and Moore : all under 30 . That’s an incredible turnaround .
@Limón Madrugada: Maybe you could include Archer on that list as he seems to be first choice in Munster.
@Tom Reilly: but reliable for Ireland ?? I’m not convinced , he is capped though for sure ..
Someone on here yesterday said that Leinster made a ‘poor decision’ letting Marty Moore go.
I think the opposite, Marty Moore made a poor decision to leave Leinster.
When he left he was in the Irish 23, primed to replace Ross. He moved to Wasps and ended up not even starting for them. He also looked unfit.
In that time Leinster developed Furlong and Porter, Ireland brought in Bealham and Ryan and a few years later he’s back fighting for 3rd/4th in the Irish pecking order.
A shame because he is some prop on his day. Possibly a better scrummager than any of the above.
@Oval Digest: The word was that Moore was excited to play under Dai Young, a well capped Welsh and Lions prop. Maybe it was the 2 year deal offered by Leinster vs the 3 year Wasps deal (undoubtedly for more money) that was the real reason. Or maybe he saw Tadgh Furlong coming through and thought now’s the time to cash in. Or perhaps he thought Leinster are not gonna be challenging any more. If it was the Young factor that helped him go, the renowned Young had no impact on him other than gaining weight. The move might have been good for his bank balance but it was a disaster for his career. Thus far. Still, a big season and he could play his way in.
@grandslamkbo The word was also that Moore signed a contract without realising that he couldn’t get out of it in an effort to bargain with the IRFU, and then got stuck.
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/leinster-admit-defeat-in-bid-to-retain-marty-moore-s-services-1.2510136
Marty is good on his day when fit, the problem is there just isn’t enough of those days.
He will have to buck up his ideas if he is to have a sniff of being anywhere near the Irish squad.
Yes squad not team
His whole career and how people will view his achievements relies on his application for the next two years
Be interesting to see how Nathan Hughes goes this season, he should be pushing for a place in the English team.
@Ruairi O’Bric: He is a super club player but I’m not sure about his workrate apart from ball carrying. If Billy V stays fits there’s no comparison…
Looked very unfit at Wasps as when he was playing previously for Leinster he had great mobility/work-rate and could force a few turnovers too.
He was overweight when he last played for Leinster and Ireland and things have only gotten worse since, needs to go on a serious shred if he is to make Ireland contention again.