RORY MCILROY EXPRESSED satisfaction with his performance after birdieing three of his last four holes to share the lead at the Memorial tournament in Muirfield Village.
McIlroy is joint leader with Chris Riley, after the duo produced opening rounds of 66. Meanwhile, Chris DiMarco and Josh Teater are a shot behind, with Americans dominating the leaderboard – McIlroy is the only non-American in the top 20.
McIlroy was content with his opening day performance and felt he was suited to the conditions in Muirfield.
“I was really happy with the way I played today,” he said. “I got off to a little bit of a scrappy start on my front nine, which was the back nine. I got it up and down a few times just to keep myself around one or two under par and then found a few birdies on the way in, which was the bulk of my birdies.
“I’m happy with 66, it’s a great way to start the tournament. This is one of my favourite weeks of the year and one of my favourite golf courses.
“I feel as if it really does set up well for me. I like these sort of golf courses, the likes of here and Akron and Quail Hollow, and I sort of feel as if I’m pretty comfortable on courses like that.”
Meanwhile, world number one Luke Donald is currently four shots off McIlroy despite a shaky start, with a round that included six birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey on the final hole.
- In the Welsh Open, Graeme McDowell lies three shots behind leader Keith Horne and is currently four under par, while fellow countryman Darren Clarke is one shot behind him.
Sweden’s Peter Hansen lies one shot behind Horne in second place. Shane Lowry parred the first 17 holes, only to drop a shot on the 18th.
