Rory McIlroy went into the BMW PGA Championship full of confidence after his FedEx Cup win but the wheels came off on the back nine at Wentworth.
McIlroy started off well with an eagle on the fourth and birdie at five but it all started to go wrong from the eighth hole onwards.
The four-time major winner made five bogeys and just one birdie from the eighth, including a double-bogey seven on the 17th after driving the ball out of bounds.
McIlroy also had to sink a long putt on the 18th to walk away with a bogey, leaving him in 114th spot on 4 over par, 11 shots behind leader Matt Wallace.
His first round 76 is his highest score since the opening round 79 in The Open at Portrush in July.
McIlroy will probably need a 67 or 68 on Friday to make the cut but it wouldn't be any real surprise to see him bounce back from a disappointing first round.
It also probably should not have has come as a major shock that McIlroy was in no mood to talk to reporters after his round.
Open champion Shane Lowry had to settle for a first round of level par after finding the water on the par 5, 18th hole.
Padraig Harrington and Paul Dunne had respective rounds of 73 and 80.
