Signing you in

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountHomeNewsFootball 2026BusinessTechnologyHealthCultureArtsTravelEarthSportAudioVideoLiveMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsFootball 2026BusinessTechnologyHealthCultureArtsTravelEarthSportAudioVideoLiveClose menu BBC SportMenuHomeWorld CupFootballCricketFormula 1Rugby UTennisGolfCyclingAthleticsMoreA-Z SportsAmerican FootballAthleticsBasketballBoxingCricketCyclingDartsDisability SportFootballFormula 1Gaelic GamesGolfGymnasticsHorse RacingMixed Martial ArtsMotorsportNetballOlympic SportsRugby LeagueRugby UnionSnookerSwimmingTennisFull Sports A-ZMore from SportEnglandScotlandWalesNorthern IrelandNews FeedsHelp & FAQsGolfLeaderboardsCalendarToo many stupid mistakes - McIlroy on ragged startImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, McIlroy carded six bogeys in an untidy opening round at Royal Birkdale

Rory McIlroy admitted "too many stupid mistakes" prevented him from making a strong start to the Open Championship as a rollercoaster opening round of 72 left him seven shots behind surprise leader Jackson Suber.

Hoping to add a second Claret Jug to the second Masters title he claimed in April, McIlroy endured a frustrating day on Royal Birkdale's greens during a round that featured four birdies and six bogeys.

The six-time major winner missed three four-foot putts in the space of four holes from the seventh before mixing three birdies with two bogey sixes over his final six holes.

"The two bogeys on the par-fives weren't great and I struggled the first two holes to get the speed of the greens," said the 2014 Open champion, who felt he drove the ball well after driving the green of the 415-yard ninth hole.

"I felt like they were very inconsistent, just because some parts of the greens are still alive and growing and other parts are really dead."

McIlroy, who finished joint fourth at the 2017 Open at Birkdale, added: "[I] sort of felt like I got it going a little bit, but just too many stupid mistakes. But every time I made a stupid mistake, thankfully I made a birdie to sort of keep myself in it.

"[I'm] not too far away. Hopefully we'll get the better conditions [on Thursday] and maybe the greens are a little bit smoother in the morning."

Brown leads English contingent hoping to 'bring home' The Open

Published1 day agoFirst round exactly what I wanted - MacIntyre

Published1 day agoTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be played

Each of the past 26 Open champions have been within five shots of the lead after round one.

But McIlroy, who recovered from a seven-shot first-round deficit to win the 2025 Masters, believes he can work his way back into contention when he tees off on Friday at 10:09 BST.

"If you look at the discrepancy between the scoring this morning and the scoring this afternoon, it looks like that's going to be flipped tomorrow with the conditions," he added.

"Hopefully I can take advantage of the more benign conditions in the morning and shoot under par and get back in it."

On the short missed putts that put him on the back foot, McIlroy admitted a couple of failed early attempts on the green meant he struggled to trust his reads.

"I feel like I missed a couple early on that looked like they were going to break one way and they actually went another way, and then when you get the next one, you're over it and it's just very hard to trust that the ball is going to do what you think it's going to do.

"Then you maybe don't make quite as committed of a stroke. It seems like when it gets like that you just keep leaving yourself four-footers.

"I left one to pretty much tap-in range on nine to make a birdie. Then I missed three four-footers in the space of four holes, and it's tough to get out of that and stay committed to what you're trying to do on the greens."

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be played

PreviousNext1:06Tuchel has no regrets over World Cup exit. 00:01:06, play videoTuchel has no regrets over World Cup exit0:31They put their best player on defence - Trump. 00:00:31, play videoThey put their best player on defence - Trump0:38Trump 'forced to call' Infantino over Balogun red. 00:00:38, play videoTrump 'forced to call' Infantino over Balogun red0:31Rooney and co get ready to row. 00:00:31, play videoRooney and co get ready to row0:52Should Tuchel be replaced as England manager? 00:00:52, play videoShould Tuchel be replaced as England manager?0:35'No one wanted to play for third place' - Konate. 00:00:35, play video'No one wanted to play for third place' - Konate0:35How to watch the World Cup final on the BBC. 00:00:35, play videoHow to watch the World Cup final on the BBC0:48Hunt welcomes new camera guidelines in female athletics. 00:00:48, play videoHunt welcomes new camera guidelines in female athletics0:42Referee in tears after being told he'll officiate World Cup final. 00:00:42, play videoReferee in tears after being told he'll officiate World Cup final0:50The story behind Messi and baby Yamal photos. 00:00:50, play videoThe story behind Messi and baby Yamal photos0:49Fifa confirm 'champions ring' for World Cup winner. 00:00:49, play videoFifa confirm 'champions ring' for World Cup winnerTop storiesDefiant Tuchel defends decisions and says loss is 'scar we carry now'

Live. Nations Championship: Savea adds second try for dominant All Blacks against Ireland

GK Barry goes inside one of the UK’s most notorious gossip forums

The man who built an international cricket ground in his garden

Keep calm and carry on - Spain trust team identity to deliver World Cup

Pele at the Azteca? England in '66? Ranking the best World Cup finals

'A true miracle of destiny' - Messi and Lamine Yamal's incredible first meeting