Lee Westwood’s brilliant eagle, birdie, birdie finish left him just a shot off the pace alongside compatriot Matt Fitzpatrick and South Africa’s George Coetzee, with world number three Justin Thomas, Ian Poulter and Scotland’s David Law on eight under.
McIlroy was reluctant to speak in detail about the incident on the 10th tee but said it had been “handled efficiently” after adding a 71 to his opening 70 to miss the cut on one under.
Rahm was certainly unfazed by what happened and said: “Those first 10 holes I played incredible.
“I was seven under through 10 and the three pars I had were short putts that could have been made. They were clearly birdie chances. That’s not always going to happen.