McIlroy gets final chance to recover from another major disappointment as British Open begins in Troon

TRON, Scotland (AP) — The first step toward recovery for Rory McIlroy begins with the final major of the year.

McIlroy was among the first competitors to start the British Open on Thursday at Royal Troon, on a cool, overcast morning by the Irish Sea.

The silver claret jug, which Brian Harman had to return as reigning champion at the start of the week, lay on the first tee as Justin Leonard opened the round in a stiff breeze. Leonard won the Open at Royal Troon in 1997.

McIlroy, U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm were among those playing the early wave. The wind from the Firth of Clyde is typically at players’ backs for the shorter front nine and in their faces for the longer back nine.

At the start of the Open the direction was exactly the other way around.

McIlroy last won a major 10 years ago, and he squandered a great chance to end that drought last month at the U.S. Open, missing a pair of 3-foot putts in the final three holes as DeChambeau won by one at Pinehurst No. 2.

Among the players playing in the afternoon were Scottie Scheffler, the world number 1, and Tiger Woods.