FedEx Cup Playoffs: Rory McIlroy four behind leader at BMW Championship

Rory McIlroy's exceptional start to the first round of the BMW Championship was derailed after a costly triple bogey. 

McIlroy, 33, carded an opening round of 3-under par 68 at Wilmington Country Club but he found the water at the par-3 15th when he double-crossed his tee shot. 

A three-putt followed for the Northern Irishman, who is seeking to win the FedEx Cup for the third time in his career. 

McIlroy's round up until that point was faultless. He chipped in at No.1 and made three more birdies on his front nine. 

Birdies at 13 and 14 followed until he arrived at the 15th and failed to execute the high cut he was hoping for. 

His opening round was good enough to see him four back of the leader, Keegan Bradley. 

Speaking to Sky Sports afterwards, McIlroy admitted that he has spent his time off "re-living that Sunday" at the 150th Open Championship, where Cameron Smith's epic run was enough to pip him and Cameron Young to the Claret Jug at St Andrews.

Still, he conceded that he wasn't too disappointed because he didn't do too much wrong. 

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"Yeah, much better than last week," McIlroy told the media, alluding to the fact he missed the cut at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis last week where Will Zalatoris claimed his maiden win. 

"[I] sort of feel like I shook off the rust a little bit. Started really well, made some good things.

"Yeah, just that one tee shot on 15. I felt like I had probably half a club too much, so I was trying to hit like a cut in there over the water, and I just double-crossed it and then compounded that by the three-putt.

"But overall the rest of it was pretty good. I mean, I knew once I got here last weekend, I knew it was a golf course that was going to suit me better than last week.

"It sort of would have been nice to flip them, like have my first event back after three weeks be this course and then Memphis next week. You just have to be so sharp around -- East Lake, as well, next week.

"But it was much better. Pleased with my game. Disappointed with how I finished, but encouraged with the rest of it."

Adam Scott is one stroke behind Bradley after shooting a 65. There is a cluster of players who are grouped at 5-under par. 

They include Harold Varner III, Justin Thomas and Shane Lowry.

Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Tyrrell Hatton, the aforementioned Young and Russell Henley round off the top-10 here. 

Scottie Scheffler, the World No.1, Jordan Spieth and Patrick Cantlay opened with the same score as McIlroy. 

Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland were off the pace, shooting 2-over par rounds of 73.

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