Headline act Rory McIlroy draws a big crowd wherever and whenever he tees it up around the globe.
But even he was surprised to be greeted on the first tee at Royal Melbourne at 7.05am by several thousand fans — golfing tragics and casual punters alike — on Thursday.
That’s what happens when you are the reigning Masters champion and one of only six men to have secured golf’s grand slam, playing on one of the sport’s most revered layouts.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow
“It was great, a wonderful atmosphere, and playing with Adam (Scott) and Min Woo (Lee) it was unbelievable,” said the five-time major winner after signing for a one-over 72 .
“Just really cool to see how many people were lining the fairways and framing the greens.
“The welcome has been so warm, it’s been a pleasure to be here and hopefully I can play a bit better over the next three days and give them a bit more to cheer about.”
Rory McIlroy has drawn a huge crowd to day one of the Australian Open in Melbourne. Credit: AAP
The crowd following the marquee group had ballooned beyond 5000 by the time they reached the turn.
It seemed like everyone wanted a piece of the action, including women’s world No.40 Steph Kyriacou, who volunteered to carry the scoreboard to ensure she would get a perfect view from inside the ropes.
It was a throwback to the days when Greg Norman and then Tiger Woods strode the fairways of the Open like a colossus.
Now McIlroy just needs to fine tune his game, after mixing five birdies with six bogeys in a rollercoaster opening round in difficult conditions with the winds gusting above 50km/h.
“The greens are getting firm,” said the 36-year-old North Irishman, who is playing the Open for the first time in a decade.
“It was a good thing they didn’t cut them today because it would have been unplayable.
“I felt like I could have shot under par or something in the 60s but it doesn’t look like anyone is going to get too far away today.
“I limited the damage and hopefully the conditions are a little better over the next few days and I can make a run.”
And the good news for Friday’s second round is he won’t have to set a 4am alarm.
“It was a sort of curtailed warm-up,” said McIlroy, who won the 2013 Australian Open at Royal Sydney in a playoff over Scott.
“If the tee time wasn’t so early I like to get to the course usually two-and-a-half or three hours before my tee time.
“But I don’t want to be turning up to the course at four o’clock.”
Presumably the fans looking to secure a front row seat for the Friday edition of Rory-mania will also appreciate the opportunity to sleep in a bit.
High winds and slick greens all good for Smith
Playing somewhat off-Broadway in the group behind Rory McIIroy, former world No.2 Cameron Smith enjoyed a welcome change of fortune on day one of the Australian Open.
The Queenslander has yet to make a halfway cut in any of the seven tournaments he has contested this year outside LIV Golf, including all four majors and last week’s Australian PGA at Royal Queensland.
But he is well placed to play a significant role in the weekend action at Royal Melbourne after signing for a one-under 70 in challenging conditions on Thursday.
Even bogeys on two of his final three holes couldn’t dampen Smith’s mood.
“I fixed a bit of tempo stuff up with my putting,” said the 32-year-old.
“That’s been really good, particularly with the shorter stuff.
“So I feel like I did pretty good today.
“I feel like I played pretty solid, made all the putts I was supposed to make and I probably left a couple out there, but it is what it is (with the wind) blowing 50Ks an hour.”
Smith was in a marquee group including early pacesetter Elvis Smylie (65) and England’s former Masters champion Danny Willett (79).
But they were still clearly playing second fiddle to the threesome immediately in front of them – headline act McIlroy, Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee.
The strong winds and slick greens made for a serious challenge – one that Smith relished.
“They did a good job of setting up the golf course,” he said.
“Considering what we had today, they could have gone maybe a little bit too far (but) I think it was good.
“It was definitely firm, a touch slower today, but it had to be, and I’m sure over the weekend they’ll spice things up a little bit.”
Vic VIP goes wildly off-script on eve of Australian Open
3 min read
Usman Khawaja hits back at public fury in pointed video
2 min read
