Rory McIlroy battles back from poor start to take share of clubhouse lead in Italian Open at Marco Simone

Rory McIlroy shrugged off a slow start and some wayward play with the driver to put himself in a nice position after the first round of the Italian Open. The world No. 2’s usually brilliant driving was wayward for the first half of his round, but he made an eagle from the fairway on his 12th hole and it sparked him to life.

Ad He took advantage of scoring holes coming in to get to four-under alongside early clubhouse leaders Gavin Green and Adri Arnaus. DS Automobiles Italian OpenMcIlroy holes out from the fairway for eagle after tough start at Italian Open2 HOURS AGO “I felt half asleep playing that front nine,” McIlroy said. “That eagle obviously ignited something and kick-started my round a little bit and I played some really good golf coming in.

“I can’t complain. I played the more difficult nine well and the easier nine not so well. “I just need to tidy up a few things over the next few days.

“Overall if I can get the ball in the fairway the next three days I will have a chance.” McIlroy scrambled a par on his opening hole after a wayward drive but was unable to repeat the trick one hole later. The 16th, McIlroy’s seventh, saw him take aim at the driveable par four and after finding the putting surface, he claimed a comfortable birdie to get back to level. McIlroy failed to find the green on his eighth and it resulted in a bogey, at which point he found himself five adrift of playing partner and defending champion Nicolai Hojgaard.