# ‘Too many stupid mistakes’ – McIlroy on ragged Open start

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/too-many-stupid-mistakes-mcilroy-on-ragged-open-start/
- Published: 2026-07-16T20:47:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-25T06:15:15+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC Sport (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/articles/c98v5rgd08qo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Art, Celebrity, Culture, Entertainment, Sport

## Key points

- McIlroy shot 72 and trails leader Jackson Suber by seven shots.
- Missed short putts and bogeys undermined his opening round.
- He hopes calmer conditions can revive his title challenge.

## Summary

Rory McIlroy began the Open Championship with an uneven one-over-par 72 at Royal Birkdale, leaving him seven shots behind unexpected leader Jackson Suber. The six-time major winner said “too many stupid mistakes”, particularly on the greens, stopped him from making a stronger start as he pursues a second Open title after winning the Masters in April.

McIlroy made four birdies but also six bogeys, including two bogey sixes on par-fives, and missed three putts from around four feet over four holes. He felt the greens were inconsistent and hopes calmer morning conditions for his second round will help him recover; although he is outside the usual five-shot range of first-round leaders, he previously overturned a seven-shot opening deficit to win the 2025 Masters.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.