Rory McIlroy, playing for the first time since losing his world number one ranking earlier this week, got off to a shaky start at the Houston Open on Thursday where he dropped three shots over his opening eight holes.

The 23-year-old Northern Irishman, who was replaced atop the world rankings by Tiger Woods this week, struggled to find his rhythm on an ideal day for low scoring at the Redstone Golf Club in Humble, Texas.

He bogeyed the par-four second hole and made a double-bogey seven on the eighth hole to limp to the turn at three-over.

The slow start left McIlroy 11 shots off the pace after American D.A. Points fired an eight-under 64 to grab the early clubhouse lead, a stroke ahead of compatriot Cameron Tringale.