The Open 2024: Shane Lowry sets pace as Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods struggle at Troon

While Woods’ round was perhaps not that unexpected given his recent injury problems, McIlroy’s came a little out of the blue.

He has performed well in the majors over the past three years, with eight top-10 finishes in 11 starts, including last month’s runner-up finish at the US Open.

The 35-year-old was moving along serenely at level par after his opening seven holes on Thursday, a birdie on the third cancelling out a dropped shot on the first.

But the four-time major champion found trouble on Troon’s two iconic holes.

His tee shot to the 118-yard par-three eighth ‘Postage Stamp’ landed on the green but trickled off right into a bunker and he took two to escape from the sand as he posted a five.

The Northern Irishman then sliced his tee shot on the par-four 11th ‘Railway’ on to the train track, as he carded a six on what has been the hardest hole in each of the past three Opens held here.

A run of three pars followed as he fought stay in the tournament but the emotion spilled out after he hit his second shot on the par-four 15th into one of Troon’s many penal pot bunkers. He found another on the last. Both led to bogeys.

McIlroy came into this week on the back of a solid performance at last week’s Scottish Open, where he finished joint-fourth, but he is perhaps still bearing the scars of his collapse at last month’s US Open, where he dropped three shots in the closing four holes to lose by one to Bryson DeChambeau.

American DeChambeau also failed to sparkle in the dreary conditions. He was five over after seven and he too found trouble at the eighth, where he dropped another shot.

“I could have thrown in the towel after nine and been like, I’m going home,” he said.

“It’s a difficult test, something I’m not familiar with. I can do it when it’s warm and not windy.”

The two-time major winner was seven over after bogeying the 15th but he was smiling after converting a 55-foot putt for eagle on the next as he ended on five over.

“I’m proud of the way I persevered. I’ve got a chance, I’m excited for the challenge,” he added.