McIlroy takes Open by storm Woods makes solid start

Rory McIlroy leads the Open after shooting a bogey-free six-under opening round of 66 at Royal Liverpool. The Northern Irishman has endured an inconsistent spell of recent form, struggling to back up impressive first-round performances the following day. At Hoylake yesterday, he produced three birdies either side of the turn to lead Matteo Mannassero by a shot.

Tiger Woods picked up five birdies in six holes as he carded a three under par opening round of 69.
Asked if it constituted a perfect round, McIlroy told BBC One: “It sort of does, especially in the first round of an Open. I couldn’t ask for anymore.
“I stuck to my gameplan, focused on the par fives and tried to pick up other shots. For the most part my ball was under control and I’m very happy.

“I’m playing well, swinging the club really nicely, holed some nice putts and I’ll try to continue to do that and hopefully have another solid round tomorrow. I won’t approach it differently.”
Woods, who is targeting victory at Hoylake despite struggling with injury all season, started his round with successive bogeys.

But after getting a shot back on the fifth, the 14-time major winner made five birdies and a bogey in six holes from the 11th to move to three under.
Woods, who triumphed at Royal Liverpool in 2006, told BBC Radio 5 live: “I figured out how to manage my way around the golf course after an awful start, but got back to even par on the turn.

“I know what it’s like to win here but the golf course is completely different to when I won in 2006, it’s much lusher. The weather forecast will change things over the next few days though.

“It feels great to be competing again at the elite level. The more rounds I play I’m getting sharper and stronger.”
McIlroy will be looking to maintain his fine start after shooting a course-record 64 on day one of the Scottish Open only to follow it up with a 78.
He also carded a 63 and a 78 at the Memorial earlier this season and suffered a seven-shot swing in another US Tour event.

McIlroy, who won the last of his two majors in 2012, shot a course-record 63 on the opening day of 2010 Open at St Andrew’s only to shoot 80 the following day. — BBC Sport