WATCH: Rory McIlroy finds himself in trouble early at the Open after finding the bunker twice at Postage Stamp

Rory McIlroy is competing in the 2024 Open Championship at the Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland. The Northern Irish golfer has had a subpar start to the final Major Championship of the year as he registered +2 on the front nine on day one.

Rory progressed decently until the infamous 8th postage stamp hole, where he found the diabolic pot bunker. Rory McIlroy's tee shot on the Par 3 8th hole found the greenside bunker on the right. But thankfully, the ball was placed in the back half of the bunker, giving him space to get the ball on the green.

Even though Rory managed to get the ball out of the bunker, it bounced between the bunker and green, which had a significant slope backward. Hence, unfortunately, the ball rolled back into the bunker. For the next stroke, McIlroy managed to get in the distance and height to reach the green and eventually made a two-putt to make a double bogey on the shortest hole on the golf course.

Postage Stamp is an infamous hole on the Royal Troon Golf Club. Even though it is the shortest hole on the golf course, the tiny green is surrounded by three pot bunkers and two in front of the green. Hence, a slight error in judgment can take the ball into the bunker, forcing at least a bogey.

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Recap of Rory McIlroy's round one at the 2024 Open Championship so far

A lot was expected from Rory McIlroy at the 2024 Open Championship as he looked in sync with his game at the recent Scottish Open. He finished T4 for the event, but the 35-year-old golfer hasn't been able to replicate that performance at Royal Troon so far.

Rory McIlroy at the 152nd Open - Day One. Image via Getty Images

Rory McIlroy began his round with a bogey on the first hole but made a comeback birdie on the 3rd hole. He seemed to have gained some confidence with his birdie as he carded four consecutive pars on the following holes. Unfortunately, a double bogey on the 8th hole derailed his confidence as he registered a bogey and a double bogey on the 10th and 11th holes, respectively.

Rory McIlroy hasn't looked in sync with his game on day one and is +6 with three holes to play. Rory struggled in all aspects of the game as he missed fairway greens and putts throughout the round. The 4-time Major Championship winner has three holes to make a comeback and be in contention to make the cut tomorrow.

Justin Thomas currently leads the 2024 Open Championship with a score of -3, while Alex Noren, Nicolai Hojgaard, Justin Rose and Russell Henley are tied for second place at -2.