RORY McILROY LEADS BY TWO WITH A 65 IN SHANGHAI
RORY McILROY pictured in action today. Courtesy of Getty Images (c).
REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Rory McIlroy gave the clearest indication yet that
he is getting back to his best form with a majestic seven under par
opening round of 65 in the WGC-HSBC Champions as he established a two-shot lead in Shanghai.
The former World Number One stated prior to the €8.5million tournament that he was in the mood to clinch his first victory of 2013, and he produced a performance to back up those feelings at Sheshan International Golf Club.
The former World Number One stated prior to the €8.5million tournament that he was in the mood to clinch his first victory of 2013, and he produced a performance to back up those feelings at Sheshan International Golf Club.
McIlroy carded seven birdies and just the single bogey on the 11th hole –
his second of the day after starting on the tenth tee – to lead Wales’
Jamie Donaldson and last week’s BMW Masters champion Gonzalo
Fernandez-Castaño.
It was a timely display by the Northern Irishman, who started the event
in 62nd place on The Race to Dubai and in need of a good performance to
break into the top 60 in order to secure his spot in the season ending
DP World Tour Championship, Dubai in a fortnight.
“It felt good to be out there and be in control of my golf ball,” said
the World Number Six. “I gave myself a lot of looks for birdies. It's a
great start, but it's only 18 holes. It's only one round of golf, but
it's definitely the way I wanted, and needed,
to start this week, keeping in mind that I obviously want to play
myself into Dubai and try to pick up my first win of the season, as
well. “
Starting from the tenth with a birdie, McIlroy gave the shot straight
back at the next but also picked up shots at the 12th, 14th and 16th.
A long birdie putt was left inches short on the par three 17th hole, but McIlroy made no such mistake from four feet on the par five 18th to reach the turn in 32, before another birdie on the first took the two-time Major Champion into a share of the lead on five under.
McIlroy moved into the outright lead with a birdie on the par five second and added another birdie when he holed from seven feet for a birdie on the par five eighth to move clear at the top of the leaderboard.
A long birdie putt was left inches short on the par three 17th hole, but McIlroy made no such mistake from four feet on the par five 18th to reach the turn in 32, before another birdie on the first took the two-time Major Champion into a share of the lead on five under.
McIlroy moved into the outright lead with a birdie on the par five second and added another birdie when he holed from seven feet for a birdie on the par five eighth to move clear at the top of the leaderboard.
“It's one of the best rounds I've played this season,” he said. “I shot
64 at Boston, so that was a good round of golf. But this is probably
better just because it was a little trickier conditions. There was a
bit of breeze and you've got to play good golf
to shoot seven under around this place.”
Spaniard Fernandez-Castaño, targeting back-to-back wins in Shanghai,
birdied four holes in a row on his back nine to card a five under par
67, while Welshman Donaldson’s round included a 22ft putt for eagle on
the 16th hole.
A shot further back on four under par is US Open Champion Justin Rose,
who recovered from a double bogey on his second hole of the day, former
Masters Champion Bubba Watson and two players making their debut in a
World Golf Championships event, England’s Tommy
Fleetwood and American Jordan Spieth.
Open Champion Phil Mickelson briefly accompanied McIlroy at the top of
the leaderboard after a flawless opening 16 holes. But the World Number
Two dropped five shots in his last two holes, putting it in the water
twice on the par five eighth en route to a quadruple
bogey nine, then finishing his round with a bogey to sign for a one
under par 71 and a share of 28th position, the same as defending champion Ian Poulter.
FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 72
65 R McIlroy (NIr)
67 J Donaldson (Wal), G Fernandez-Castaño (Spain)
68 J Spieth (USA) , J Rose (Eng) , B Watson (USA) , T Fleetwood (Eng)
69 P Casey (Eng) , K Aphibarnrat (Tha) , G Bhullar (Ind) , S Hend (Aus) , E Els (RSA) , D Johnson (USA) , G McDowell (NIr)
70 R Moore (USA) , D Fichardt (RSA) , J Blixt
(Swe) , B Weekley (USA) , L Donald (Eng) , S Garcia (Esp) , L
Oosthuizen (RSA) , K Streelman (USA) , M Kaymer (Ger) , P Hanson (Swe) ,
H Wen-Yi (Chn) , K Duke (USA) , J Jeong (SKor)
71 I Poulter (Eng) , K Bradley (USA) , C Wood
(Eng) , D Ernst (USA), P Mickelson (USA), P Uihlein (USA) , B
Horschel (USA) , L Westwood (Eng) , G Delaet (Can) , B Gay (USA) , H
Matsuyama (Jpn)
72 M Ilonen (Fin) , J Van Zyl (RSA) , D Points
(USA) , M Brown (Nzl) , J Merrick (USA) , M Hendry (Nzl) , M Manassero
(Ita) , L Wen-Chong (Chn) , F Molinari (Ita) , D Howell (Eng) , B Haas
(USA) , S Piercy (USA) , L Hao-Tong (Chn)
73 S Gallacher (Sco) , J Dufner (USA) , B Snedeker (USA) , J Walker (USA) , M Kawamura (Jpn)
74 H Stenson (Swe) , D Lynn (Eng) , M Thompson (USA) , R Fowler (USA) , T Björn (Den) , R Sterne (RSA) , W Ashun (Chn)
75 G Coetzee (RSA) , H Fujita (Jpn) , M Jiménez (Esp) , G Bourdy (Fra) , B Rumford (Aus) , N Watney (USA)
76 H Mu (Chn) , T Jaidee (Tha)
77 B Grace (RSA) , B Van Pelt (USA) , D Popovic (Aus) ,
81 R Jacquelin (Fra) , R Ishikawa (Jpn) , B Seuk-Hyun (Kor) ,
83 H Ming-Jie (Chn)
Labels: PRO GOLF
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