Northern Irish golf ace Rory McIlroy opened with a three-over 74 in The Barclays and was left nine shots off the lead in the opening event of the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup play-offs.
Chasing his fourth straight win after the Open, Bridgestone Invitational and US PGA, McIlroy was out in 40 in New Jersey. The world number one improved his card with two birdies on the back nine.
England's Paul Casey is among a pack one shot behind leader Bo Van Pelt of the United States, who is on six under. USA Ryder Cup stars Hunter Mahan and Jim Furyk are also on five under, while Scotland's Russell Knox shot a 67 to finish two shots off the pace, The BBC reported.
Masters champion Bubba Watson, US Open and Open runner-up Rickie Fowler, England's Justin Rose and South Africa's Ernie Els are all on three under.
After starting his round at the 10th, McIlroy only managed to hit seven out of 14 fairways, although he did drive the ball better on his second nine. He finished his round by holing a 30-foot birdie effort, which followed a dropped shot at the eighth after a missed green and pulled six-foot putt.
McIlroy said that he thinks it is more to do with just not putting the adequate time into his game over the past week for obvious reasons, and added that taking a week off and sort of getting back into it this week, he probably just needs to give himself a little bit more time.
But, the Northern Irishman said that he wasn't going to do that as he was enjoying himself.
