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The former British Open and PGA Championship winner overcame the chilly early morning temperatures and steady wind to go as low as 5 under before finishing with a bogey on No. 18.
The day started promisingly enough for Rory McIlroy, who made two birdies in his first eight holes, reaching the par-5 14th in two before two-putting and getting up-and-down from just off the green at the short par-4 17th.
But he iss still trying to find his ryhthm and some consistency.
Case in point: McIlroy bogeyed his next three holes, hitting in the water on the 18th and making a mess of his short irons on Nos. 1 and 2.
The former No. 1 player in the world recovered, though, with birdies on Nos. 5 and 6 before stumbling again, this time on the par-4 ninth, where he missed the green left then failed to get up-and-down to save par.
In his 10 rounds on the PGA TOUR this season, McIlroy has broken 70 just twice.
Rory McIlroy, who entered the tournament last week as a final opportunity to prep for next week's Masters, opened with an even-par 72. He was tied for 23rd with the morning rounds ongoing.
The former world No. 1 was 2 under early in his round, which began on No. 10 on the difficult 7,435-yard layout.
However, McIlroy found the water on the par-5 18th when his approach came up short - beginning a stretch of three straight bogeys.##
