Rory McIlroy struggles in Miami
Thursday, 11 March 2010 23:29Rory McIlroy started the WGC-CA Championship with a bitterly disappointing 76 in windy Miami on Thursday, with Charl Schwartzel leading the tournament on five-under-par.
Schwartzel leads by one stroke from Ernie Els, Robert Allenby and Vijay Singh, with a host of players a shot further back on three under.
Padraig Harrington is well in contention on two under par, but Graeme McDowell struggled and shot a 74.
McIlroy has only a few of the 68-strong field behind him after no fewer than six bogeys and so many shots into bunkers that he could not remember the final tally.
'I'm just struggling,' said the world number nine, out-scored by five by playing partner and defending champion Phil Mickelson.
'I'm not playing well and just can't keep things going. I've been struggling since the weekend in Dubai (now over a month ago).'
He has had back trouble in that time, but added: 'That's not really a factor. I'm struggling with the whole game. When you're playing well it's easy, but when you're not it's difficult.'
Although McIlroy was exercising his back as he spoke, he did not want anything read into that.
'Just keeping it mobile for the 500 balls I'm about to hit,' he said.
