Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell both failed to impress on the opening day of the WGC CA Championship at the Blue Monster course at the Doral in Florida.
McIlroy carded a four over par round of 76 that included two birdies and six bogeys.
The World number nine started on the back nine with a birdie at the par five tenth but would go onto drop three shots including back to back birdies at the 14th and 15th.
A birdie at the first, his tenth hole brought him back to two over on the wind swept course, but he would follow that up with another pair of bogeys on the bounce.
His run of three pars was broken by another dropped shot at the 7th with the Holywood golfer paring his way in.
Fellow countryman Graeme McDowell found the going tough also as he carded a three over par front nine.
He did manage to limit the damage somewhat with three birdies in five holes of his back nine.
However his hard work was undone with a bogey, bogey finish at the 17th and 18th, to leave him two over par, with a round of 74.
Ireland's three time major winner Padraig Harrington fared better with a two under par round of 68 to leave him three behind overnight leader Charl Schwartzel of South Africa.
Harrington's round included five birdies and three bogeys.
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