Challenging course conditions, exacerbated by rain and wind, led to a suspension of play due to darkness at 7:28 PM local time.

Rory McIlroy finished the first round of the Houston Open with a score of 70, placing him five shots off the lead.

McIlroy characterized his start as 'pedestrian' and acknowledged difficulties in converting scoring opportunities.

Scottie Scheffler, who is aiming to defend his Masters title, finished the round at two under par, three strokes behind the leaders, and achieved a bogey-free performance.

The early joint-leaders of the tournament include Keith Mitchell, Taylor Pendrith, Alejandro Tosti, and Ryan Gerard, all at five under par.

In addition, Harry Hall from England finished with a score of two under, while Danny Willett ended the round four strokes off the lead.

He described his performance as a 'tale of two halves', noting that he had a stronger showing on the back nine despite earlier struggles.

During his round, McIlroy recorded two birdies and two bogeys at Memorial Park in Texas, positioning him among several competitors.