Barclays Cup 2014 Standings: Rory McIlroy has Worst Start in 2 Months; What's the Problem?

World No. 1 golfer, Rory McIlroy, did not have a great start during the first round of The Barclays on August 21 at Ridgewood Country Club.

In a report by ESPN, "His round included a 40 over his opening nine holes -- the eighth time in 2014 that McIlroy has shot at least 40 or more for nine holes in which he failed to make a birdie. For the day, McIlroy hit just seven of 14 fairways and took 32 putts and was tied for 102nd out of 122 players competing."

Bo Van Pelt opened the FedEx Cup playoffs with three consecutive birdies and added an eagle to finish 6-under 65, according to AP Sports. However, there is no security yet that he will advance to the next tournament, since he ranks No. 104 and only the top 100 can proceed to the next round. Paul Casey was bogey-free and is the eighth player in the tournament who finished at 66, the AP Sports report added.

McIlroy acknowledged that he needed to improve his game and he vowed that things will be different in the next rounds.

He said, "Fatigue isn't playing a part. It's I think just not putting the time in that I probably should have over the past week. And I think I allowed myself that and deserved that. But this is the consequence of it and I need to work hard this afternoon and go out tomorrow and shoot a good number."

The 25-year-old said, in a report by USA Today, "I just wasn't very good." He added, "It was inevitable, after such a great few weeks -- I wanted to enjoy it for a week. I came here Monday morning, hit some balls, practiced pretty well. But I guess taking a week off and sort of getting back into it this week, I probably just needed to give myself a bit more time. But I wasn't going to do that. I was enjoying myself."

Compared to Van Pelt and ranked No. 118, Casey, McIlroy ranks No. 1 in FedEx Cup points and does not have to worry about moving on to the Deutsche Bank Championship in the following week. He is bound to join 29 other players in the tournament. He is particularly aiming to finish in the final five to prepare for Atlanta.

Phil Mickelson expects McIlroy to rebound in the next round, "Now he's such a good player, he'll end up coming back tomorrow, and I would anticipate a low round. But there's nothing he can do that is going to equal what he's already done this year," noted ESPN.