Rory McIlroy admitted much of his focus was on his swing rather than his scoring as he fired an opening level par 71 on day one of the 100th Open de France.
The Northern Irishman missed just his fifth cut in a Major Championship at the US Open two weeks ago and revealed before teeing it up at Le Golf National that he was working with coach Michael Bannon on a few aspects of his swing.
Despite those concerns, a level par round is a perfectly respectable start on the tough Paris layout, and McIlroy was content with his effort.
"I've got about four or five swing thoughts out there at the minute, so that's why I'm sort of happy with 71 with how much I'm focusing on my golf swing and my technique," he said.
"My left-hand grip is too strong, takeaway was going on the inside, wasn't holding my right elbow properly at the top of my swing, wasn't getting my right knee out of the way on the down-swing. I've been working on a few things.
"Michael and I have done a good bit of work over the last few days, trying to bed some stuff in. It will take a while but I was encouraged with some of the shots I hit out there today.
"I was joking with my friends at the weekend: I've got 17 swing thoughts down to about five, so I'm doing okay. Try to get that to two next week."
Read about Rory's swing changes:https://t.co/RiJsz58OEO https://t.co/w0Y1Koju07
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The 27 year old birdied the 11th and although he spun his ball into the water for a bogey on the 13th, back-to-back birdies on the 14th and 15th got him to two under before another bogey on the next.
He made an excellent par save after finding water again on the 18th but bogeys on the fourth and seventh sandwiched a gain on the fifth as he came home in 37.
"There was a little bit of adventure in there, four bogeys, four birdies," he said. "There was quite a few good shots in there which I was pleased with, a few loose ones, as well.
I felt like I saw some good signs out there today. Held some nice putts. Hit some good iron shots. So it's slowly coming together - Rory McIlroy
"It was tricky out there, the conditions, with the wind. The greens have dried up a little bit since the start of the week, so conditions are not that easy out there.
"I think anything in the 60s today is a good score."
