Ireland's Rory McIlroy was unable to carry the form that saw claim third place in the Dunhill Links Championship into the first round of the Madrid Open today, only managing a one-over-par 73 to lie eight shots off Argentinean Daniel Vancsik's lead.
However, with 17 pars and just one bogey, the 18-year-old was not too disheartened.
"I hit a lot of fairways and greens so I am happy enough, hopefully I can come out tomorrow and shoot something a bit better," said the 18-year-old from Northern Ireland, who virtually secured his card for next season by finishing third on Sunday in just his second event as a professional.
"It was pretty tricky in the wind and the greens cut up a little bit as well. They will be a lot better tomorrow morning so if I can shoot something in the 60s I will be right there."
Vancsik, who won the Madeira Island Open in March but missed the cut in 12 of the next 14 events, carded six birdies and an eagle to establish a course-record 65 and leads by one shot from Portugal's Jose-Filipe Lima.
German Martin Kaymer and Scotland's Steven O'Hara are one shot further back. O'Hara currently lies 120th on the Order of Merit with only the top 115 after the Mallorca Classic on October 28th keeping their playing privileges for next season.
Ireland's Peter Lawrie and Damien McGrane are both in the hunt on one-under-par.
Lima has failed to reproduce the form which brought him a first tour title in the St Omer Open back in 2004, and had an unorthodox explanation.
"I stopped smoking seven months ago and started trying to improve physically in the gym, doing a lot of muscular work," he said.
"I also changed some things in my swing but I could not get the feelings I had with my old swing so I have started smoking again and have reset everything to try and get the old feelings back. If I win again I'll stop smoking again!"
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