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

Rory McIlroy says he is encouraged by his start to the Amgen Irish Open despite a sloppy finish to his first round at the K Club. 

McIlroy signed for a 71 on Thursday, hitting five birdies and four bogeys. 

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. 

"I feel like I played better than what the score reflects," McIlroy told Sky Sports. 

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

"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.  

Spain's Nacho Elvira grabbed the lead with a superb 66. 

Former LIV Golf recruit Bernd Wiesberger, Daniel Brown and Adrien Saddier were also inside the top 10.