McIlroy's Epic Drive
Rory McIlroy Transforms Frustrating Open Start with Dramatic 400-Yard Drive and Birdie
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Key Points
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Earlier in the round, McIlroy bogeyed the par-3 4th after three pars and then failed to convert a short putt on the par-3 7th, followed by a four-foot birdie chance missed at the 8th.
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On the 9th, McIlroy unleashed a colossal drive beyond 400 yards that rolled onto the green, drawing roars from the crowd.
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The 9th hole is listed as about 414 yards by BBC and 415 yards by HeadTopics, highlighting slight variance in reported yardages across outlets.
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McIlroy completed the front nine in 35 strokes, a number often cited to show he closed the front near a stronger segment despite the slow start.
Rory McIlroy sent the crowd at Royal Birkdale into a frenzy Thursday by driving the green on the par-4 ninth hole — a shot that traveled more than 400 yards and rolled all the way to the putting surface. Golf Channel reported the hole measures 415 yards, making it one of the most jaw-dropping drives of the Open Championship's opening round.
The moment of brilliance came after a frustrating stretch to start his round. McIlroy bogeyed the 4th, missed a short putt on the 7th, and then failed to convert a four-foot birdie chance at the 8th. He finished the front nine at one over par — six shots off leader Jackson Suber — but the monster drive gave fans and commentators plenty to cheer about.
A Drive That Rolled Onto the Green
McIlroy pulled out his driver on the 9th tee and unleashed a colossal shot that flew past 400 yards and landed on the green. BBC described the shot as McIlroy "hammering" his tee shot onto the putting surface. The roar from the crowd was immediate. Power and precision at the same time — that is what made the moment stand out.
Yahoo Sports called it "a lethal combination of power and precision." McIlroy then two-putted for birdie, one of the easier ones he will make all week. The drive turned a frustrating front nine into something worth remembering. Commentators were left in awe, according to HeadTopics.
Missed Putts Haunted McIlroy Early On
Before the 9th, McIlroy's round was defined by lost chances. He made three pars to open, then bogeyed the par-3 4th hole. The mistakes kept coming. He missed a short putt on the par-3 7th, then failed to drain a four-foot birdie attempt at the 8th. Short putts are supposed to be the easy ones.
Those misses added up fast. McIlroy completed the front nine in 35 strokes — one over par. Yahoo Sports noted his Open bid was "off to a disappointing start" before the 9th hole changed the story. Six shots separated him from leader Jackson Suber after nine holes.
How Far Was the Ninth Hole, Exactly?
Outlets differed slightly on the hole's exact length. BBC listed it at about 414 yards, while Golf Channel and Yahoo Sports both put it at 415 yards. Either way, driving the green on a hole that long is extraordinary. Most Tour pros would not even attempt it. McIlroy made it look routine.
McIlroy Needs to Climb Fast at Birkdale
At six shots back after nine holes, McIlroy has serious ground to make up. Royal Birkdale is known for testing even the best players in the world. A one-over front nine is not where he wanted to be. But the 9th hole drive showed his raw power is not the problem.
The bigger question is whether he can clean up his putting. Three missed short putts in nine holes is a costly pattern. If the driver stays hot and the putter warms up, McIlroy — a six-time major champion, according to HeadTopics — still has the game to chase down the leader.
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