Rory McIlroy six over after Memorial Tournament first round

Rory McIlroy's miserable run of form continued as he shot a first-round 78 to finish six over par on the first day of the Memorial Tournament in Ohio.

The world number two, from Northern Ireland, struggled with the conditions as he missed the cut at the BMW PGA Championship last week at Wentworth.

And the 24-year-old was equally out of sorts on Thursday, dropping four shots before the turn and two more later on.

England's Lee Westwood played slightly better but could still only card a 76.

With only two weeks until the start of the US Open, McIlroy is keen to find some form and when the two-time major winner, starting on the back nine, birdied the par-four 10th, he would have been eyeing a low score.

But a double bogey at the 12th - his third hole - put him on the back foot and three further bogeys followed before the turn.

He then carded three more bogeys, interspersed with a birdie at the fifth, before squandering birdie chances at the final two holes.

"I'm pretty frustrated," said McIlroy after his round.

"I'm trying not to let it get to me. It is what it is. A few bad rounds of golf isn't going to ruin anything, but I'd definitely like to start playing better."

Westwood had appeared to be on the brink of victory last week at Wentworth only to squander a two-shot lead in the final round.

The 40-year-old's mood would hardly have improved in Ohio on Thursday after he carded three bogeys and a double bogey.

South Africa's Charl Schwartzel mixed a bogey and a double bogey with 10 birdies to lead the way after a seven-under-par 65.

World number one Tiger Woods shot a one-under-par 71.