An OutKick column examines the main storylines from the opening round of the 2026 Open Championship, with Rory McIlroy's poor putting singled out as the headline issue. The piece notes that McIlroy's recent Masters victories in 2025 and 2026 have largely overshadowed his long-standing struggles in major championships, but his round one putting display at the Open has brought those difficulties back into focus.

The article frames McIlroy's putting lapse against the backdrop of his recent major success, suggesting that despite winning two of the last two Masters tournaments, his short game issues in majors persist and remain a talking point heading into the rest of the Open Championship. Further details on his specific round one score and other storylines from the day were not included in the available article text.