Rory McIlroy goes from 400/1 to win the Open after six holes of first round to 7/1 following fightback

RORY McILROY went from 400/1 to win the Open after six holes of his first round to just 7/1 following his awesome comeback.

The 2014 Open champion – who urged punters to back him at 20/1 before play began – was a dismal five over through his first third yesterday before a rollicking from his caddie inspired a storming four under on the back nine.

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And today he reached two under par and the first page of the leaderboard before eventually signing for a two-under 68 and one under standing overall.

Bookies Betfair revealed his astonishing drop in odds as the Northern Irishman eyes up a second Claret Jug.

But it could have been very different were it not for a little help from his friends on the 15th.

The four-time Major winner sprayed his drive wide and had to have officials dig up and move a sign with directions on it.

McIlroy was surrounded by fans as the workers made a clear path for the Northern Irishman.

Unfortunately for him, however, it still led to a bogey on one of only two par fives on the course.

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McIlroy's move sparked memories of when Tiger Woods had to call on spectators to move a boulder so could hit a shot.

And McIlroy said after his round: "I guess the spectator signage to where to go, they've bolted those into the ground and they needed to get an Allen key to remove it.

"They wouldn't give me a drop. I actually had an embedded ball there.

"Every other week we get relief from. But because we're playing with the R&A rules this week, we don't get relief from an embedded ball, so a double whammy."