RORY MCILROY launched himself to the top of the leaderboard with a bogey-free round of six-under par on day one of the Hong Kong Open in Fanling.
The world number two carded half a dozen birdies for a 64, enough for a share of the lead alongside Alvaro Quiros of Spain and England’s David Horsey.
Miguel Angel Jiminez is a further shot back on five-under while McIlroy’s fellow Northern Irishman Gareth Maybin lies two shots off the pace.
“It was very good, a solid round of golf, I didn’t make a mistake,” the 2011 US Open champion said afterwards.
“Six birdies and no bogeys is always a nice way to start the tournament.”
Starting on the back nine alongside Eduardo Molinari and Ian Poulter, McIlroy found early form and holed out testing putts to pick up shots at the par four 14th and 16th.
After the turn, a brilliant approach on the first left him with a three-footer for birdie and that was followed by another at the par five second minutes later.
A stunning recovery from the sand on the fifth pushed McIlroy out to five-under and he capped a fine opening round with another birdie on six.
I played very solid from the first hole, hit two good shots into the tenth and made par there, which was probably the toughest hole we played all day.I just gave myself a lot of chances, I think I hit 17 greens and a lot of fairways and I was able to take a few, which was nice.
