Rory McIlroy Recovers from Slow Start, Shoots 1 over at 2017 British Open

Rory McIlroy hit consecutive birdies on the 17th and 18th holes to finish one over par and recover from a nightmare start at the 2017 British Open on Thursday. McIlroy carded an opening round of 71 despite being five over par following the front nine, after beginning with five bogeys over the first six holes at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, Merseyside.

In a classic tale of two nines, McIlroy rallied to sink four birdies and stay bogey-free on the back nine. While he has a lot to do Friday, McIlroy has at least avoided the embarrassment of missing the cut for a fourth tournament in a row after failing to make the grade at the U.S. Open, Scottish Open and Irish Open.

For a look at McIlroy's full scorecard for Round 1, visit the tournament's official website.

McIlroy's rough start saw three bogeys and par over the first four holes. His first bogey came on the par-four first, although the 28-year-old did well to hole this putt and avoid a double bogey, per Sky Sports Golf:

Even so, there was no sugarcoating his dire start. National Club Golfer Magazine summed up the reaction well:

Meanwhile, BBC Sport's Iain Carter pulled no punches in his assessment of McIlroy's performance out of the gate:

Things hardly got better on the fifth, with McIlroy's tee shot landing in the rough. He still had a chance to birdie, but narrowly missed the putt and had to settle for another bogey, hardly a help:

McIlroy seemed unable to get out of a rut as he slipped further and further out of contention:

Those bleak numbers meant McIlroy was tied for 121st on the board with 12 holes left to make amends. The process began with his chipping out of the bunker to save par on the seventh.

McIlroy followed this hint of positivity with another par on the eighth, but he needed something special to close out the front nine. However, he put too much into a birdie putt and had to settle for par again.

James Gray of the Daily Express noted how slow starts, particularly struggles on the front nine, have become all too familiar for McIlroy in the tournaments that matter:

The back nine began with another par before McIlroy drove onto the fairway of the par-four 11th. This was McIlroy's chance to add the birdie his card desperately needed. He duly found the touch and moved back to plus-four.

Press Association reporter Phil Casey felt McIlroy was now primed to rally:

Things didn't quite go according to plan, though, when McIlroy dragged a birdie putt on the par-three 12th. He still made par, but needed more. To his credit, McIlroy did fashion another birdie chance on the 13th, but he couldn't sink this one either and stayed at four over after another par.

It was becoming a familiar pattern as another miss for birdie followed on the 14th. McIlroy just couldn't get it right on the greens.

Seeking to make quick work of the 15th, McIlroy used an iron to approach the pin and give himself a chance for an eagle. Yet again, he put too much on the key shot, even though McIlroy still earned a second birdie to get back to plus-three.

McIlroy landed just in the rough after teeing off on the 16th, but did avoid the tricky fairway bunkers. A quality chip helped McIlroy out of trouble on his third shot, allowing him to sink a useful par putt.

He missed an eagle putt on the 17th, but gladly accepted a third birdie on the back nine. McIlroy was now two over ahead of the final hole, a fine recovery after such a rocky start.

He birdied the 18th to reduce the gap behind the leaders, per the European Tour's official Twitter account:

McIlroy merits credit for how he improved over the back nine. Things could have been even better had he not wasted so many birdie and eagle putts, but his tee and approach shots were generally excellent.

Although he is still far from his best, the 2014 tournament winner has managed to stay within reach, in addition to ending his dire recent run in the majors.