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<\/p>\nRory McIlroy bogeyed two of his last three holes and faded to a one-under 71 in the first round of the Irish Open on Thursday in his latest homecoming.<\/p>\n
The world No 2, who attracted the biggest galleries of the day at The K Club, was looking to sharpen up his game a few weeks out from the Ryder Cup in Bethpage Black, where the Northern Irishman is expected to be Europe’s key player once again.<\/p>\n
“It’s great every time I come back and play in this tournament. The crowds are unbelievable and it’s obviously a pleasure to play in front of them. They create a great atmosphere,” McIlroy said.<\/p>\n
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Rory McIlroy says he admires Novak Djokovic’s ability to deal with hostility with a pro-American crowd and hints at taking advice from the Serbian after the pair had a conversation. <\/p>\n
He was still encouraged by how he played – he birdied four of his first nine holes after starting at the 10th.<\/p>\n
“It felt like I played better than what the score reflects. Felt like I hit the ball well, drove the ball well,” McIlroy said, adding: “Just had that disappointing finish, bogeying two of the last three holes.<\/p>\n
“But actually pretty encouraged [by] how I played. Just didn’t score as well as I wanted to.<\/p>\n
“Just a matter of being more efficient with the scoring.”<\/p>\n
His finish hurt him most, missing the green at the seventh and eighth and failing to get up and down for par.<\/p>\n
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Rory McIlroy ‘loves’ the team Luke Donald has assembled for the Ryder Cup and believes Team Europe ‘have a wonderful opportunity’ at Bethpage Black.<\/p>\n
“Ball striking-wise, I thought I was pretty good today,” McIlroy said. “Around the greens for the most part I was good. I missed a couple of mid-range putts there at the end of the round to save par and that one at the last for birdie, but felt like I hit decent putts and just hitting edges.<\/p>\n
“So hopefully I can get it going tomorrow and shoot a low one.”<\/p>\n
Spanish brothers Nacho and Manuel Elvira are leading after the opening round, with Nacho holding the clubhouse lead after four birdies in his last six holes saw him card a bogey-free 66.<\/p>\n
The Spaniard is one shot ahead of Bernd Wiesberger, Daniel Brown and Adrien Saddier.<\/p>\n
Ireland’s Shane Lowry, another member of Europe’s Ryder Cup team, was playing in front of his home crowd and birdied three of his last six holes to shoot a 69.<\/p>\n
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