It was business as usual for Rory McIlroy on Thursday – a scorecard littered with birdies and bogeys and a post-round press conference focused on matters other than his golf game.
McIlroy posted a one-under-par 71 in the opening round at the RBC Canadian Open, where he is the two-time defending champion. His card included five birdies to offset four bogeys, leaving the world number three four shots off the lead.
Following an opening question about the course conditions in his post-round press conference, it was right back to the biggest topic in the world of golf – the merger heard around the world.
After 48 hours of drama following the news of the PGA Tour's merger with the Saudi Public Investment Fund and the DP World Tour, was it good to get back on the course, where good friend and playing partner Justin Rose posted a three-under 69?
"Rosie and I said, 'alright, no chatting until lunch so that we can actually concentrate on what we're doing out there,'" McIlroy said.
"We started to get in a conversation walking down the first [hole] and we're like, 'No, let's stop this. Let's just focus on our golf and we'll say what we want to say when we get inside'.
"So, it was nice to play a round of golf and focus on something else for those five hours we were out there."
"You know, the most uncomfortable I've felt in the last 12 months was my press conference yesterday."
That was followed by a question about the air quality – McIlroy wasn't bothered by it much – and right back to the merger questions, which took up the remainder of his press session.
McIlroy has spent the past year as the de facto voice of the PGA Tour and players while engaging in regular public spats with the likes of LIV Golf defectors Phil Mickelson and Patrick Reed.
So, it's no surprise that everyone wants the opinion of McIlroy, who said on Wednesday that he was never offered money by LIV Golf and still hopes that the Saudi-backed league goes away.
He acknowledged that the off-course pressure has weighed on him far more heavily than what goes on inside the ropes.
"You know, the most uncomfortable I've felt in the last 12 months was my press conference yesterday," McIlroy added.
Meanwhile on the course, England's Aaron Rai, Justin Lower, Chesson Hadley from the USA, and local player Corey Conners lead the way on five-under.
A group of nine players are one shot further back in a tie for fifth on a congested early leaderboard.
Shane Lowry finished on level par 72 in a round that contained a double-bogey six on the fourth, followed by a bogey at the next. The back nine saw the Offaly native pick up shots on 10,13, 16 and 18, with dropped shots on 11 and 15.
A shot further back on 73 is Dubliner David Carey.
Additional reporting PA
