Rory McIlroy has said that common sense was in short supply after his group was put on the clock during the first round of the Amgen Irish Open at the K Club.
The Holywood golfer was an early starter alongside South Africa's Thriston Lawrence and Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan, and they were warned on both the front nine and the back nine for slow play.
McIlroy, who fell five shots off clubhouse leader Ignacio Elvira following bogeys on two of his last three holes, felt that rules officials had not fully taken into account the huge galleries that had followed the feature group around the course.
"I felt a little rushed out there for the last 12 holes," he said after signing his card for a one-under-par 71.
"We got put on the clock pretty early, and then the first official went away and then we put on the clock for the last three holes to try to make time up.
"It's hard because you feel a bit rushed, you're playing some tough holes and our group has to deal with a lot more than any other group on the course.
71 for Rory McIlroy on day one of the Irish Open - but it might have been lower
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"It's understandable that we lose time. And I feel like anytime I either come back to Europe or I play in some of these, like 1-2-3 in the world type groups, we're always put on the clock for that reason.
"So got a little frustrated the last few holes because I feel like it always happens.
"I don't think they use sort of common sense in terms of, of course we're going to lose ground because we're going to have to wait on crowds and wait on the two camera crews that are out there.
"There's a lot more going on with our group than with any of the other groups on the course.
"Sometimes I feel like they have to give us a little bit of leeway and use a bit of common sense."
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