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Valero Texas Open: Rory Birdies 17 After Driving Ball Under SUV

By Ryan Marshall

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MARCH 06: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts on the 18th green during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard at Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Golf Course on March 06, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MARCH 06: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts on the 18th green during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard at Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Golf Course on March 06, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Rory McIlroy began his Valero Texas Open campaign with an absolute roller coaster of a Thursday. Normally, when a player finishes a round with six birdies, it’s been a fairly good day. The only problem for Rory was that he had six bogeys to match, leaving him at even par. He came into the week on top of the PGA Tour’s power rankings and was viewed by many as the favorite to win this week in San Antonio.

Matching every birdie with a bogey isn’t exactly the kind of consistency the Northern Irishman was looking for in his final tune-up before Augusta next week.

He seemed to have trouble dialing in his iron distances, as four of his bogeys were caused by approach shots flying too far. Rory would finish the day tied for 72nd, seven strokes off the lead, on a day where The Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio was playing uncharacteristically easy. The wind is usually whipping this time of year in central Texas, but the breeze never surpassed 10 mph on Thursday. The field jumped at the opportunity, and birdies started pouring in as the weather warmed up throughout the day. Rory just couldn’t seem to get out of his own way to take advantage of the prime conditions.

Rory McIlroy’s wild ride on hole 17 was a perfect encapsulation of his day

After a bad slice off the 17th tee, Rory found himself in a unique predicament. Instead of heading into the trees, or finding a bunker, his ball somehow managed to roll under a shiny black Lexus SUV.

Tournament employees could be seen scrambling in the background, and nobody quite knew what to do at first. Rory leaned on the driver-side-door of the promotional vehicle, while the broadcast announcers on ESPN+ speculated as to who might actually have the keys, and if the vehicle could be moved.

Rory was eventually given free relief from the SUV, and he’d have to manage an awkward downhill pitch shot. The ball came screaming onto the green with enough speed to roll off and cause more trouble – until it nailed the flagstick, and sat nicely near the hole for a tap-in birdie.

Next. Decade by decade, the best of the Masters. dark

Rory’s talent had once again canceled out one of his missteps, as was the case all day Thursday at the Valero Texas Open. With The Masters just around the corner, Rory McIlroy will look to cut out those mistakes and tighten up his game for the duration of his time in San Antonio.