Rory McIlroy battled back from a nightmare start but failed to break 70 on his debut in the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Just 24 hours after declaring that efforts by the R&A and USGA to curb driving distance gains were “a huge waste of time and money” the world number six bombed a 340-yard drive into the desert and started with a double-bogey six after finding a bunker with his third and then thinning his recovery into more sand.

He dropped another shot at the 11th where a 310-yard missile finished up behind a tree but after fighting back with birdies at the 13th, 15th and the iconic 16th (where he chipped in) and further birdies at the second and third, he was disappointed to bogey the eighth en route to a one-under 70.

Scores

“It was a good battle back,” said McIlroy, who favours bifurcation but described the ambition of the USGA’s Mike Davis to protect the game for the next 100 years as something that “reeks of self-importance.”

“I was really surprised how far my tee shot went on 10 to get into the desert there. It was like a 340 run-out. I had no idea I could hit 340 in that temperature,” McIlroy said.

“Being three-over through two isn't ideal, especially on this golf course where you sort of need to make birdies. But I fought back well. I wish I didn't drop that shot coming in on the eighth hole, but shooting under par after the start wasn't too bad.”

McIlroy’s comments on the distance debate reached the R&A who said in a statement they “welcome the contributions from players and others involved in the sport and will take them into consideration as we move forward on this important subject.” 

He finished the day tied for 50th, seven shots adrift of Matthew NeSmith and Mark Hubbard, who shot a bogey-free, eight-under-par 63’s to lead by a shot from Nate Lashley and Sam Burns.

European Ryder Cup captain Pádraig Harrington (49) played with his US counterpart Steve Stricker (53) and another Wisconsin native in Jerry Kelly (54).

But after getting to three-under-par with three holes to go, he drove into the hazard left at the 17th and made bogey, then drove left into the water again at the 18th and closed with a double-bogey six for a level par 71 and a share of 70th alongside Kelly.

Stricker (53) had a stellar day with the putter, carding a six-under 65 that left him solo fifth to lay down a marker for September.

“Well, walking off the first tee I told him — and Jerry Kelly was our third player in our group. I said, ‘Paddy, we got two Badgers against you today.’ He was like, ‘Well, I need to get used to that I guess.’

“So he knows what's coming when he comes there in September. Hopefully, we can put a good team together and play well and bring that Cup back home where it belongs.”

Harrington is reluctant to commit to the PGA Tour Champions full time in September but he confirmed to Stricker he will play some events later this year.

“I asked him when he was going to play. He turns 50 in August and he is going to play right away in September, he thought,” Stricker said. “So he's still got a lot of game, too. He hits to a long ways, and another feather in the cap for the Champions Tour when he comes out to play for sure.”