McIlroy sets blistering pace on day one at St Andrews

Jul 15, 2010, 13:43 GMT

London - Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy set a blistering early pace midway through the opening round of the 150th British Open at St Andrews on Thursday after he recorded a superb 9-under-par 63.

The 20-year-old sensation was just 1-under-par through eight holes but eagled the ninth and then picked up six birdies on the last nine holes to equal the Championship record of 63, but become the first man to do so in the opening round.

'I had to take advantage of the conditions today - the course was there to be taken apart but there have been a lot of very good scores,' McIlroy said.

The 1995 champion John Daly and Scotland's Andrew Coltart were three shots behind after 6-under-par 66s, while out on the course tournament favourite and world No 1 Tiger Woods was one shot back on 5-under-par.

US Open champion Graeme McDowell, US Masters winner Phil Mickelson and Britain's leading hope Lee Westwood were all due to begin their opening rounds later on Thursday.

Not a lot happened in the first eight holes for McIlroy but he then drove the par-four ninth and promptly eagled it.

That was the spark he needed and he picked up five birdies in the next six holes and another birdie at the last lifted him to 9-under-par and a three-shot lead, the perfect start as he bids to become the second Northern Irishman to win a major in succession.

'Graeme McDowell winning the US Open has given me belief,' McIlroy said. 'If he can win a major then so can I.'

After heavy overnight rain, conditions were conducive to low scoring and for much of the morning, it was 1995 champion John Daly who captured most of the attention.

The American was 5-under-par at the turn and reached 7-under-par at one stage, before a bogey at the 17th dropped him back to 6-under.

'I'm not too disappointed,' Daly said. 'Of the putts I missed I hit most my lines except the 17th, which I pulled a little bit for the par.

'I left some out there but I'm pleased with the way I am driving the ball. This is the seventh or eighth tournament in three-and-a-half years I have been healthy to play.

'It has been really tough because [of injuries to] the rib and hip, but I'm starting to get some confidence in my game again these last seven events.'

Former St Andrews champion Nick Faldo, the winner of six Majors but making a rare appearance these days, carded a level-par 72, while five-time winner Tom Watson, who came within one shot of winning the title last summer, was 1-over-par with three holes to go.