Rory McIlroy expressed sharp criticism towards tournament officials at the Amgen Irish Open after his threesome received warnings for slow play on two separate occasions during Thursday's opening round at the K Club.
The world number two found himself penalised despite enormous galleries trailing his every move around the County Kildare venue.
Playing alongside South Africa's Thriston Lawrence and Norway's Kristoffer Reitan, McIlroy's group fell behind schedule as spectators created inevitable delays.
Officials first cautioned them early in the round, then returned to place them on the clock again during the final three holes.
Rory McIlroy was furious with the lack of 'common sense' at the Irish Open
|PA
The Northern Irishman's frustration peaked as he dropped strokes on both the seventh and eighth holes, his 16th and 17th of the day, tumbling from three-under to one-under par.
The pressure of racing against time proved costly for McIlroy, who had been cruising at three-under through 15 holes. His composure unravelled when officials returned to monitor his group's pace during the closing stretch.
"I felt a little rushed out there for the last 12 holes," McIlroy revealed after signing for a one-under 71. The four-time major champion explained that warnings came early, with officials departing before returning to scrutinise the final three holes.
The timing restrictions particularly stung as McIlroy navigated challenging holes whilst managing substantial crowds.
His playing partners also encountered difficulties, with both Lawrence and Reitan finding water on the seventh hole, further complicating matters.
**SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY GB NEWS SPORTS NEWSLETTER HERE**
Rory McIlroy was followed around by huge crowds at the Irish Open
|PA
The episode left McIlroy trailing Spanish leader Nacho Elvira by five strokes after the Spaniard posted six-under 66.
McIlroy directed pointed criticism at officials, questioning their judgement when handling marquee groups attracting massive followings.
"I don't think they use sort of common sense in terms of, of course we're going to lose ground because we're going to have to wait on crowds and wait on the two camera crews that are out there," the Holywood golfer stated.
JUST IN: Daniel Levy leaves Tottenham in bombshell announcement
He emphasised the unique challenges facing high-profile pairings: "Our group has to deal with more than any other group on course so it is understandable that we lose time."
The Masters champion's frustration stemmed from repeated experiences: "I feel like anytime I either come back to Europe or I play in some of these, like 1-2-3 in the world type groups, we're always put on the clock for that reason."
"Sometimes I feel like they have to give us a little bit of leeway," McIlroy added.
Despite the setback, McIlroy remained optimistic about his overall performance, suggesting his score didn't reflect the quality of his play. The 35-year-old noted his ball-striking felt solid, continuing positive momentum from his recent showing at East Lake.
Rory McIlroy sported his green jacket after winning The Masters earlier this year as he addressed the crowd on his homecoming tournament
|PA
Fellow Irishman Shane Lowry fared better, delighting home supporters with a three-under 69. The 2019 Open champion recovered from being one-over through eight holes, finishing strongly with three birdies in his final six.
"The Irish crowds are great," Lowry acknowledged, expressing satisfaction at rewarding their support with a solid round.
McIlroy praised the atmosphere created by spectators, calling it "amazing" and "a pleasure" to compete before them, despite the timing complications their presence caused.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS: