Sports

McIlroy’s three double-bogeys mar opening round at Barclays

With his play this season, Rory McIlroy is making his win at the 2012 PGA Championship seem like a lifetime ago.

The former No. 1 player in the world and heir apparent to Tiger Woods’ throne atop the sport played another roller-coaster round Thursday, shooting an even-par 71 in the first round of The Barclays at Liberty National Golf Course in Jersey City.

McIlroy made four birdies and an eagle, but had all the momentum wiped out by three double-bogeys — including one on the ninth hole, his last of the day.

“I made a few silly mistakes out there which cost me,” said McIlroy, who is seven shots behind leader Kevin Stadler. “The rest of it was actually pretty good. So [I will] just try and cut out those silly mental errors, and I should be OK.”

McIlroy hasn’t won on any tour this year and this week is ranked 49th in the FedEx Cup standings. The 24-year-old Northern Irishman won the 2011 U.S. Open at Congressional in impressive fashion, then took the 2012 PGA at Kiawah Island running away, as well.

This offseason, he switched equipment after signing a mega-deal with Nike, and he’s managed five top-10 finishes in 13 PGA Tour starts.

One thing he is sure about is how much he likes the golf course.

“I think it’s one of the best venues we play on tour,” he said. “I would love to see a PGA Tour event come back to Liberty National every year.”

* Phil Mickelson teed off at 6:26 p.m. and hit his first shot of the tournament into the water right of the first fairway. He ended up making bogey 5 on No. 1 and shot 1-under through the opening six holes before play was stopped.

Mickelson, who lives outside of San Diego but is a member of Liberty National, is ranked No. 4 in the FedEx Cup standings and riding high from his win at the British Open last month.

* Playing with Tiger Woods (4-under) were the two players directly under him atop the FedEx Cup standings, Matt Kuchar and Brandt Snedeker.

Kuchar had a nice run on the front nine (his final nine) when he made three birdies in six holes and finished one shot ahead of Woods with a 5-under 66. Sendeker, the defending FedEx Cup champ, closed with two bogies and shot a 1-over 72.

* Early in the morning, Scott Brown attempted to drive the 325-yard, par-4 16th hole. His tee shot hit a cement bridge over the water right of the fairway, and bounded onto the green, up a slope and to three feet of the hole.

Brown made the putt for eagle 2, and finished with a 1-under 70.