McIlroy handles blustery conditions to share lead on 64

GOLF TOUR NEWS:RORY McILROY finished the first round of the Hong Kong Open in a three-way tie for the lead on six under par after David Horsey and Alvaro Quiros matched the 22-year-old's opening 64.

McIlroy was among the first groups out at Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling and collected six birdies without dropping a shot to set the early clubhouse mark during windy morning conditions.

But Horsey responded with a similar effort, while Quiros chipped in at the 18th to also end the day six under par.

The trio head former two-time winner Miguel Angel Jimenez by a stroke, with Northern Ireland’s Gareth Maybin and Australian Darren Beck two back on four under.

Starting on the 10th, McIlroy picked up birdies at the 14th and 16th courtesy of mid-range putts to reach the turn in 33 before a sand wedge to inside three feet at the first brought another.

The 22-year-old moved to four under at the next and, although his drive from the fifth tee found the bunker, a superb recovery allowed the Northern Irishman to knock in a short putt for his fifth birdie of the day before adding his sixth at the next to complete a satisfying opening effort.

“I think, first of all, the greens are a lot firmer and a lot faster than they usually are, which makes it tougher to get the ball closer to the hole, but the wind today was a big factor,” said McIlroy.

“It swirls in these trees, you can feel it one minute downwind and the next right to left so you just have to trust where the wind is coming from.

“I was able to do that today, I got a couple of gusts where the ball might have gone a few yards left or right from where I wanted to, but, all in all, I was able to handle the wind pretty well.”

After lamenting his failure to turn promising positions into more victories this season, McIlroy is keen to capitalise on a good start over the next three days.

“Just getting myself in the position is a start and there might be a couple of things I can do better to turn those top-fives into wins. I have felt this year that I’ve definitely let two or three tournaments slip away from me and that’s something I’m trying to work on so that doesn’t happen,” he said.

“As long as I get myself in these positions and start winning more regularly, it becomes a habit and, hopefully, I’ll do it more often.

“I think it’s a very encouraging sign that I’m getting these top-fives, top-threes regularly and, hopefully, all of a sudden I’ll get on a run and maybe win a few events in a short space of time. It’s just about consistency and putting yourself up on a Sunday week in and week out. All that experience has to help you in some way.

“There’s still a long way to go in this tournament, I’ve led a lot of tournaments from the first day and I’ve won a couple of them, but I realise more than anyone else there’s a long way to go and over 54 holes, I’ll have to play very well to pick up the trophy.”

Horsey, meanwhile, quickly climbed the leaderboard with birdies at the first and third before adding two more at the ninth and 10th.

A crucial par save from the sand came at the next before a fine approach at the 12th moved the 26-year-old from Stockport to five under. He then finished in style as his second to the par-four 18th landed two feet from the pin and he tapped in for a 64.

Quiros carded an eagle and four birdies in his 64 and the Spaniard was also pleased to defy the blustery conditions.

“I played well, I gave myself a lot of good chances, but didn’t holes putts. I think it was a fair score today,” said the Spaniard. “Seeing Rory up there is not a surprise because he’s there every single week.”

Meanwhile, defending champion Ian Poulter, playing alongside McIlroy, opened with a one-over 71 as the Englishman carded two bogeys and a birdie.

“It was a tricky day, windy,” said Poulter. “Scoring wasn’t going to be anywhere near as good. Obviously I’m disappointed, I actually played quite nicely and didn’t hole a putt out there. I’ve got work to do tomorrow, this golf course will play tougher.

“When you get a wind in the direction it was today, which is not a prevailing wind, it makes the course tricky. There’s some golf to play.”

Peter Lawrie is next best of the Irish after a 69 left him one under, ahead of Pádraig Harrington (70) by the slimmest of margins.

Damien McGrane and Michael Hoey, however, were seven and eight over, respectively.