McIlroy Struggles, but Woods Soars at Doral
By KAREN CROUSE
DORAL, Fla. — The featured group at the Cadillac Championship on Thursday was like a marquee with one light burned out and another flickering. In a grouping of the top three players in the world, only one posted a luminous score.
It was not the world No. 1, Rory McIlroy, whose struggles continued in the first round of this World Golf Championships event as he needed a late surge to negotiate the Doral Resort’s Blue Monster in a one-over 73.
It was not the world No. 3, Luke Donald, who plunked his opening shot into the water and struggled with his distance control on his irons before rallying on the second nine for a 70.
Tiger Woods, the world No. 2, accounted for most of the group’s electricity with a six-under 66 in perfect scoring conditions — ample sunshine and negligible wind — to move into a five-way tie for first with Fredrik Jacobson, Sergio García, Graeme McDowell and Bubba Watson.
“It was certainly a day that could have been a little bit lower,” said Woods, who birdied five of his last nine holes after starting out birdie, birdie, bogey, bogey.
Woods said he enjoyed the illustrious grouping, describing it as “fun for us,” never mind that for the first nine holes, none of the players looked happy.
A day after receiving a tutorial on the green from his good friend Steve Stricker, who adjusted his posture, Woods one-putted 12 greens and finished with 23 putts. “Whatever he says, I’m going to do,” Woods said. “He’s one of the best putters that’s ever lived.”
McIlroy, playing for the first time since he withdrew in the middle of the second round of last week’s Honda Classic because of a painful wisdom tooth and abscesses in his game, hit three fairways and had 31 putts.
On the eve of the tournament, McIlroy had vowed to focus on the fun of competing instead of the stresses of performing. The people around him did their best to keep the mood lighthearted. One of his managers, Colin Morrissey, remained rooted to the range as McIlroy made his way to the 10th tee. “Enjoy,” he said as McIlroy walked past him.
Was he not going to follow him? Morrissey said he planned to catch up to McIlroy when he was through. “I told him I’d meet him on the sixth hole,” he said, joking.
Despite their efforts, McIlroy’s face for most of the round was longer than a belly putter.
“It was a bit of a struggle, to be honest,” McIlroy said. “Hit some good shots, hit some not-so-good shots. As I’ve been saying all week, this is a work in progress.”
Between shots, McIlroy was often seen mimicking his take-away. The motion he made with his right arm was not unlike the half wave that players muster to acknowledge the cheers and support of fans. Throughout the day, the spectators tried to lift McIlroy’s spirits. With voices dripping with sympathy, they yelled encouragement like “Stay positive, Rory” and “Feel better, Rory.”
McIlroy’s tribulations were magnified by the sharp play down the stretch of his playing partners. Both Donald and Woods played the front nine in four-under 32.
“I could have shot 29 if I’d made a couple putts,” Donald said. “I’m excited about that.” Especially given his start. “My very first hole was just a duck hook, just a terrible shot,” he said.
At No. 7, a 454-yard par-4, McIlroy hit his best shot of the day and covered the flag with his approach. They were the first two solid shots he had strung together, and he made them count by draining the birdie putt. McIlroy hit solid shots on the next two holes, finishing birdie-par to take away some positives from the round.
“It’s something to build on,” said his caddie, J. P. Fitzgerald.
What people remember from last year is that McIlroy was second, first and third in his first three Tour starts and piled up three victories, including a runaway win at the P.G.A. Championship, in a span of less than a month to finish the season. What Woods reminded everybody on Thursday is that McIlroy endured a stretch in June and July when his best finish was a tie for seventh.
“I don’t think he’s quite drawing the ball like he used to, like he wants,” Woods said. “Maybe just a little bit defensive out there.”
Woods said he had “talked a little bit” to McIlroy, coming to his aid, similar to the way Stricker came to him on the practice green. Did he care to share any of what he said? “No,” Woods said with a laugh.
“We have all gone through stretches like this,” he said. “It happens and it happened to him last year in the middle of the year, and ended up all right at the end of the year.”
Woods added: “When you play golf and you play for a very long time, you’re going to have spells like this. You can’t play well every week, even though you try.”
Before he left the interview area, McIlroy told Fitzgerald to meet him on the range. He knows there are no short cuts to regaining his form. All he can do is work on it, and work on it some more.
