Maybe Rory McIlroy’s luck is changing. In his first round since losing the Irish Open in agonising scenes on Sunday, the world No 3 watched in disbelief as he hit an approach shot to seven feet – but only after the head of his eight-iron flew off down the fairway.
—
AstunnedRoryMcIlroylooksattheendofhissnappedclub–GettyImages/RichardHeathcoteMaybeRoryMcIlroy’sluckischanging.InhisfirstroundsincelosingtheIrishOpeninagonisingscenesonSunday,theworldNo3watchedindisbeliefashehitanapproachshottosevenfeet–butonlyaftertheheadofhiseight-ironflewoffdownthefairway.
ItisfairtosaythatitwasaneventfulopeningmorninghereattheBMWPGAChampionshipfortheNorthernIrishmanashetriedtoshrugoffacollectionofnearmissestowinforthefourthtimethisseason.
HavingseenhischallengeatRoyalCountyDownbreakdowninheartbreakingfashion–hewastwoclearwithfourtoplaybeforeRasmusHojgaardmadethemostofafewhugebreakstopiphimattheline–McIlroydeclaredthathewas“gettingused”tofallinginchesshort.
InJune,hebogeyedthreeofthelastfourattheUSOpentohandthetrophytoBrysonDeC
