MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Rory McIlroy had a self-described “rollercoaster” of a round Thursday at the Australian Open.

He wasn’t exaggerating.

McIlroy, whose pre-tournament news conference included comments that Royal Melbourne was not the best sandbelt course in the city, had a wild round of six bogeys and five birdies around the composite course and shot a 1-over 72 to trail the leaders by seven strokes after the first round.

A case of the famed sandbelt course, which has hosted three Presidents Cup tournaments, biting back? The swirling winds — including gusts of up to 60 kilometers an hour (38 mph) — were certainly a factor.

“It was a rollercoaster day,” McIlroy said. “Every time I got a birdie or two I got a bogey or two. It wasn’t terrible. I hit it in a couple of bad spots

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