British Open leader McIlroy misses Major record by a stroke
By ANIFriday, July 16, 2010
FIFE - Irish golfer Rory McIlroy has missed the golden opportunity of being the first man to post a ten-under-par 62 in a Major championship.
McIlroy has a two-stroke lead going into the second round of the British Open after tying a major championship record of nine-under-par 63 on day one.
The 21-year-old also became the 22nd player to go that low in one of golf’s biggest events, but he could have broken the record if he had not missed a three-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole.
McIlroy is only the eighth player in British Open history with a 63, and the second at St. Andrews after Englishman Paul Broadhurst in 1990’s third round.
“It went through my mind on 17 that 62 would have been the lowest Major round. That’s probably why I missed the putt,” The Sun quoted McIlroy, as saying.
“It was still a fantastic score, especially as I didn’t get a flying start. I was only one under through eight holes, then my eagle on nine really turned things around for me.”
“I just got going from there. And six birdies later, it turned out to be a very pleasant round of golf,” he added.
South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen is closest to McIlroy after an opening 65.
Five others shot 66, and the group at 67 includes World No. 1 Tiger Woods and England’s Lee Westwood. (ANI)
