Rory McIlroy opens with hole-out birdie from bunker at Genesis Open

Follow Woods and McIlroy in our featured groups coverage of the Genesis Open, live now on Sky Sports Golf

By Ali Stafford

Rory McIlroy made the perfect start to the Genesis Open with a hole-out birdie from the bunker on his opening hole.

Rory McIlroy made the perfect start to the Genesis Open with an unlikely birdie on his opening hole at Riviera Country Club.

McIlroy is making his second appearance in the California event, hosted by the Tiger Woods Foundation, with the four-time major champion part of the marquee group alongside Woods and FedExCup champion Justin Thomas.

The threeball began at the par-four 10th, where McIlroy missed the fairway off the tee before shooting over the green with his second shot and ending up in a greenside bunker.

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How to watch the Genesis Open, live on Sky Sports.

With his playing partners both on the green and McIlroy seemingly facing work to do to save par, the Northern Irishman then produced the perfect wedge out of the sand and watched it kick off the putting surface to find the centre of the cup.

McIlroy wasn't the only player in the group to open with a birdie-three, as Thomas nudged in from three feet and Woods walked in an eight-foot gain.

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Click on the video above to watch McIlroy's bunker magic!

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Watch the Genesis Open throughout the week live on Sky Sports Golf! Live coverage continues on Friday from 2.30pm.

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