Rory McIlroy implores tournament officials at Irish Open to 'use common sense'

An 'agitated' Rory McIlroy says he is encouraged by his start to the Amgen Irish Open despite being put on the clock by tournament officials. 

McIlroy signed for a 71 on Thursday, hitting five birdies and four bogeys at the K Club.  

The Northern Irishman began his national open on the back nine and gave the partisan crowd plenty of reason to cheer with birdies at 11, 12, 16 and 18. 

But two bogeys in his final three holes saw him slip five behind the clubhouse lead before play was suspended on day one due to lightning. 

McIlroy later told reporters his group was put on the clock and the reigning Masters champion believes tournament officials lacked common sense over the situation. 

"We got put on the clock pretty early, and then the first official went away and then we were put on the clock for the last three holes to try to make time up," he said. 

McIlroy said his group had more to deal with than others, with large crowds and camera crews affecting their pace of play. 

"I just felt because it's happened to me quite a lot before in these sorts of big groups," he said. "I felt like I just let it agitate me a little bit.

"And it's hard because you feel a bit rushed, you're playing some tough holes and we obviously, our group, has to deal with a lot more than any other group on the course."

He added: "I got a little frustrated the last few holes because I feel like it always happens and I don't think they use sort of common sense in terms of, well, 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.

"And, you know, there's just a lot more going on with our group than any of the other groups on the course, and 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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Of his own display, McIlroy said he felt like he played much better than his score suggested. 

"I drove the ball well, hit the ball well, but just had that disappointing finish, bogeying two of the last three holes," he told Sky Sports. 

"But I'm pretty encouraged with how I played. I just didn't score as well as I wanted to."

McIlroy's Ryder Cup teammate Shane Lowry - using a new driver - signed for an opening 69. 

"Very happy with myself," said Lowry. "I've been struggling to find a driver that I love this year."

Both players will also play in next week's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth before heading to Bethpage Black in New York. 

McIlroy added: "As I said, off the tee was good, it was a continuation of what I saw at East Lake [at the Tour Championship] a couple of weeks ago. It's a matter of being a little more efficient with the scoring."

"Ball-striking wise I thought I was pretty good today.

"Around the greens for the most part I was good, but I missed a couple of mid-range putts towards the end to save par and then that one at the last for birdie.

"I feel like I hit decent putts, I'm just hitting edges so hopefully I can get it going tomorrow and shoot a low one."

McIlroy's sole victory in the Irish Open came here in 2016.

He'll be playing in the afternoon wave tomorrow.