"It was awesome"- Rory McIlroy surprised with crowd support at Paris Olympics 2024

Rory McIlroy finished the first round of the Paris 2024 Olympic Golf Tournament with a score of -3. However, it was not the score that impressed him the most on the day, but the support that he received at Le Golf National.

After his round ended, McIlroy took a few questions from the press. The 35-year-old, who is playing for Ireland, said he was impressed with the crowd on the course, even though it was only the first day.

Here is what Rory McIlroy said (via Golf Monthly):

"Unbelievable. It was surprising. With so many events going on spread all across the city, for people to venture out here and to watch us play, it was a really cool atmosphere to play in. I thought the weekend it might get a few more people. I thought the first couple days might be a little bit quieter but it was awesome."

He added:

"I think the crowd support that we all got out there was amazing. Obviously there's a few more flags and there's a bit more, I don't know what the word is, like nationalism. But we were all really well supported out there. It was great to see."

The golf event at the Paris 2024 Olympics began at Le Golf National on Thursday, August 1, and will continue till August 10. The men will play from August 1 to 4, while the women will compete from August 7 to 10.

A look at Rory McIlroy's first-round performance at Paris Olympics 2024

Rory McIlroy started his first round at Le Golf National with a par on the first and a bogey on the second. However, the Irishman quickly recovered to make birdie, par, and birdie the next three holes.

McIlroy then made three consecutive pars and eagled the par-5, 578-yard ninth hole to leave the front nine at 3-under.

However, his performance on the back nine was up and down. He started with a bogey, par, and bogey before making three consecutive birdies from the 13th to the 15th.

On the final three holes, Rory McIlroy parred the 16th and 17th, but bogeyed the 18th to seal his score at 3 under for the first 18 holes.

His performance puts him in a share of 14th place after round one. The event is led by Hideki Matsuyama on -8. The Japanese had eight birdies and no bogeys.

Xander Schauffele is in second place, two shots behind Matsuyama. The American golfer won the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021).

Scottie Scheffler, one of the favorites to win this time, also had a good day. He carded four birdies and no bogeys for a 4-under total and is tied at sixth.