Memorial Tournament R1 leaderboard: Rory McIlroy's verdict after opening with a 71 at Jack's place

Rory McIlroy had to settle for a one-under 71 on day one of the 2026 Memorial Tournament. 

The Northern Irishman is making his 14th appearance at the Jack Nicklaus-hosted signature PGA Tour event in Columbus, Ohio. 

McIlroy, 37, has never won here and explained ahead of his 14th appearance that he feels like his biggest weapon - his driver - is neutralized. 

The Masters champion only found seven of 14 fairways in round one but believes, for the most part, that he hit the ball pretty well off the tee. 

After 18 holes, McIlroy trails early pacesetters Wyndham Clark, Ryan Gerard, J.J. Spaun and his Ryder Cup teammate Tommy Fleetwood by four shots. 

"I feel like I drove it pretty well," McIlroy said. 

"Again, anytime I hit driver here I'm still feeling like I'm hitting into the narrowest part of the fairway. 

"So I hit some good drives that didn't end up being in the fairway, but I felt like they were pretty good drives. 

"I had a couple of bad ones. I think just with some of the lines you have to take with driver here, whether it's hitting up over trees or trying to cut corners, it's much easier just hitting into a nice, like, straight strip on the range."

Playing alongside Justin Thomas, McIlroy started with two safe pars before making an ugly double bogey at the third after going into the water.

He responded with a hattrick of birdies to make the turn in one-under.

McIlroy saved par in style at the 13th after hooking his drive into the rough. 

A welcome birdie putt dropped at the 14th. 

On the 15th, McIlroy hit a wild approach that bounced into a wall of the Nicklaus Club tent but he was able to chip to the edge of the green and save par.

Asked how he manages to stay calm under pressure, McIlroy said: I think just understanding that there's 69 more holes to go in the golf tournament and there's a long way to go and a lot of things can happen. 

"I've made plenty of double bogeys in my career, and I've made plenty of double bogeys in tournaments that I've won. 

"So you play enough events, you learn to ride the highs and the lows and not get too excited or too down either way."

This is the final PGA Tour event McIlroy will play before turning his attention to the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. 

McIlroy has slowly gotten to grips with U.S. Open tests over the years but missed the cut the last time it was played in New York.

He believes lag putting at Muirfield Village will serve him well.