Jon Rahm Ahead Of Hometown Favorite Rory McIlroy At Irish Open

Jon Rahm surprised golf fans at Portstewart Golf Club in Northern Ireland on Wednesday by surpassing local favorite Rory McIlroy on the first day of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

RORY McIlory NEWS: finished with a 72 AT IRISH OPEN

The 22-year-old Spaniard hit a seven-under par 65, while the third member of that group — world number two Hideki Matsuyama of Japan — shot 67 after bogeying on the first hole.

McIlroy, the tournament host and defending champion, was thus left stunned after recording a 72 in the opening round to finish eight behind the leaders.

“Selflessly, it was great to see Jon and Hideki do so well. I was thrilled when they entered the event and they are exactly where we want them to be,” said McIlroy, whose Rory Foundation hosts the tournament. “Selfishly, however, I want to be right there alongside them and I now have my work cut out.”

McIlroy, 28, needed 33 strokes with the flat stick.

“I just couldn’t get any momentum and now I’ll need to start well in the morning and get birdies on the board,” said the Irishman.

McIlroy also announced Wednesday that he is staying off social media for an indefinite period of time after getting into a feud on Twitter with former PGA Tour player Steve Elkington last month. The golfer left his wife in charge of his Twitter account.

“I don’t need to read it,” McIlroy said Wednesday (via CNN) of criticism leveled at him on Twitter and other platforms. “It’s stuff that shouldn’t get to you, and sometimes it does.”

The golfer became upset after Elkington called him out for looking “bored” during tournaments and for boasting about his winnings. Elkington also said Jack Nicklaus was much better than McIlroy.

Rahm, meanwhile, reveled in his stellar performance in the first round.

“I don’t know if I played that well but I certainly put on a putting clinic,” he said.

World number 542 American Daniel Im and Frenchman Benjamin Hebert, two little-known competitors, both kept bogeys off their card on Thursday.

Im and Hebert were right ahead of English pair Oliver Fisher and Matthew Southgate.

At last year’s Irish Open, Southgate finished fourth after taking a six-month break from golf due to testicular cancer surgery.

“It was a week that changed my life in all sorts of wonderful ways and allowed me to loosen the reins with regard to expenses and get the best out of myself,” said the 28-year-old Essex, England native. “I just love playing links golf. I’m chuffed to get back into The Open and now I want to keep doing well here.”

Welsh 41-year-old Jamie Donaldson — the 2012 Irish Open champion — shot 66, as did Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick. 

Portrush native Graeme McDowell hit a 67 to tie Justin Rose. 

LONDONDERRY, NORTHERN IRELAND – JULY 06: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits his second shot on the 13th hole during day one of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Portstewart Golf Club on July 6, 2017 in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)