Rory McIlroy’s comfort zone should be on the golf course; yet, even after making a pact with Justin Rose not to discuss any of the seismic issues of recent days and the PGA Tour’s surprise merger into a commercial entity with the Saudi Arabia-funded PIF, the Northern Irishman discovered the opening round of the RBC Canadian Open in Toronto to be anything but plain sailing.
Indeed, a topsy-turvy first round of one-under-par 71 by McIlroy – five birdies and four bogeys – pretty much reflected how he played to sit well off the pace set by a quartet headed by local favourite Corey Conners, who contended so strongly at last month’s US PGA, Americans Chesson Hadley and Justin Lower and England’s Aaron Rui who claimed a share of the clubhouse lead with first round 66s.
[ Rory McIlroy says the PGA Tour needs to compe …
- June 9, 2023
