HORROR STORY

Mac and Co hopes are gone with the wind

- NEIL MCLEMAN

THERE was no redemption in the rain for Rory McIlroy at Royal Troon yesterday.

Instead, the US Open runner-up shared his Major pain with Pinehurst champion Bryson DeChambeau and his fellow superstars on a day of scorecard carnage at The Open.

Gusting winds and rain caused numbers to climb as high as the thick rough with disasters at every turn.

And McIlroy suffered yet another nightmare to extend his Major drought beyond 10 years and counting.

Last month the Ulsterman dropped three shots in the final four holes to lose late in sunny North Carolina. This time McIlroy played his way out of the event early in sunless South Ayrshire with two double bogeys and a bogey in four holes around the turn on his way to a seven-over 78.

It was his worst round at a Major since his opening 79 at Royal Portrush - and then he began with an eight.