McIlroy nine off Quail Hollow lead

Golf:Jonathan Byrd and David Toms were the surprise clubhouse leaders as the first round of the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow in Charlotte got under way, but defending champion Rory McIlroy slumped to a 73.

While Byrd and Toms lead, the likes of McIlroy, Martin Kaymer, Bubba Watson and Jim Furyk have some room to make up after the pair finished on six-under-par 66.

In fact, the Northern Irishman is nine shots adrift after a 75.

McIlroy, who won last year with a startling final round of 62, opened with a bogey at the 10th and added two more before the turn after a birdie at 15.

There was another bogey at the third and a birdie at the fifth for the Holywood golfer, before he finished with a dropped shot at the par-four ninth.

"Not the start I was looking for," McIlroy Tweeted soon after his round. "Struggled with my ball striking today, which is unusual for me. Hit it better on the range afterwards."

World number 64 Byrd and Toms, ranked 76, both produced consistently good golf, the former sinking seven birdies and just one bogey while Toms hit an eagle, five birdies and one bogey.

Fellow Americans Lucas Glover and Pat Perez are one shot behind, in turn one ahead of Stuart Appleby and Carl Petterson.

Pádraig Harrington and one-time leader Brandt Jobe both enjoyed steady rounds, shooting four birdies and one bogey as they finished the day on three-under-par 69, where they were joined by Sergio Garcia and Ryan Moore.

World number two Kaymer is six shots back after an inconsistent first round where four birdies on the front nine were interspersed with two bogeys.

The German finished with a two-under-par 70 along with Anthony Kim, who followed up an eagle at the seventh with two birdies and two bogeys.

Watson shot a disappointing 72 as he began his quest for his third Tour win of the season.

The world number 11 sank three birdies and one bogey on the front nine but on the way back hit three bogeys and just one birdie.

He was joined by fellow American Jim Furyk as well as Rory Sabbatini and Troy Matteson.