Overview

• Playing with Thriston Lawrence and Kristoffer Reitan, McIlroy’s group received an early caution and was later timed again for the final three holes at the K Club.
• McIlroy said the monitoring made him rush, and he dropped shots on two of his last three holes after reaching three under par.
• He finished with a one-under 71 in the first round and is five strokes behind the lead.
• He argued that large galleries and multiple camera crews slowed movement, calling for more “common sense” in pace-of-play enforcement for marquee groups.
• Reports note no additional penalties or an official response from tournament authorities beyond the timing actions.