McIlroy Struggles in Tough Conditions at Houston Open, Trails Leaders by Five Strokes

Houston Open First Round Highlights

Memorial Park Golf Course, Houston - The 2025 Houston Open got off to a dramatic start with challenging weather conditions impacting play across the field. Four players share the lead at 5-under par, while world number two Rory McIlroy finds himself fighting from behind after an even-par opening round.

Leaderboard Snapshot

• T1 (-5): Alejandro Tosti (Arg), Ryan Gerard (US), Keith Mitchell (US), Taylor Pendrith (Can)
• T5 (-4): Seven players including Thomas Detry (Bel), Mackenzie Hughes (Can)
• Notables:
  • Scottie Scheffler (US) -3
  • Harry Hall (Eng) -2
  • Rory McIlroy (NI) -1

McIlroy's Challenging Start

The Northern Irish star described his opening round as "pedestrian" after carding an even-par 70 that featured two birdies against two bogeys. McIlroy, making his first Houston Open appearance since 2014 as part of his Masters preparation, struggled to find his rhythm on the demanding Memorial Park layout.

"It was a tale of two nines," McIlroy reflected. "I scrambled well on the front but left several chances out there coming in. The conditions made scoring difficult, but I need to sharpen up before Augusta."

Weather Impacts Play

Persistent rain and gusting winds created challenging scoring conditions throughout the day, forcing tournament officials to suspend play at 7:28 PM local time with several groups yet to complete their rounds. The tough conditions were reflected in the scoring average, which hovered nearly two strokes over par for much of the day.

Scheffler Shows Steady Form

Defending Masters champion Scottie Scheffler posted one of the day's cleanest cards with a bogey-free 67 (-3). The world number three recorded three birdies in difficult conditions, showcasing the form that makes him a favorite heading into the season's first major.

"The back nine was definitely stronger," Scheffler noted. "Keeping a clean card in these conditions is always satisfying, though there's still work to be done."

International Presence on Leaderboard

The international flavor at the top of the leaderboard includes Argentina's Alejandro Tosti and Denmark's Rasmus Hojgaard among those in contention. England's Harry Hall sits at 2-under, while countryman Danny Willett finished at 1-under alongside McIlroy.

Looking Ahead

With better weather forecasted for the second round, players will look to take advantage of softer conditions to either separate from the pack or climb back into contention. All eyes remain on McIlroy as he looks to build momentum before his career Grand Slam attempt at Augusta National in three weeks.