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Rory McIlroy toils at British Open as putting woes leave him 7 shots off the first-round lead
By Steve Douglas, Associated Press at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate)
· July 16, 2026
· 3 min read
There were no “I’m so bad at golf” exclamations from Rory McIlroy this time.The puzzled looks, shakes of the head and sagging shoulders said it all.McIlroy was just 10 holes into his bid to win the British Open for the first time since 2014 and he was veering dangerously close to playing himself ...
Key takeaway McIlroy was just 10 holes into his bid to win the British Open for the first time since 2014 and he was veering dangerously close to playing himself out of title contention.
Why this matters in The San Antonio
For San Antonio golf enthusiasts, Rory McIlroy's struggles at the British Open may resonate with their own experiences on the city's numerous courses. Inconsistent putting, as McIlroy described, can be a frustrating challenge, especially on greens with complex breaks. Locally, golfers may find similar difficulties at courses with Bermuda grass or uneven surfaces, requiring a keen eye for speed and direction. As a major golfing figure, McIlroy's candid assessment of his performance may encourage San Antonio golfers to reexamine their own approach to putting, seeking to improve their skills and trust their instincts on the green. With several top-tier golf courses in the area, San Antonio golfers can draw inspiration from McIlroy's perseverance and work to refine their own game, perhaps learning from the world No. 2's experiences at the British Open.
About this story
Original reporting by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . The San Antonio surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 16, 2026 ·
Source: KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) ·
Reading time: 3 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? There were no “I’m so bad at golf” exclamations from Rory McIlroy this time.The puzzled looks, shakes of the head and sagging shoulders said it all.McIlroy was just 10 holes into his bid to win the British Open for the first time since 2014 and he was veering dangerously close to playing himself ...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 16, 2026 by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) and curated for The San Antonio readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Steve Douglas, Associated Press at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate). To learn more about how The San Antonio selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The San Antonio, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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