Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy on their way to the fifth green during the first round of the PGA Championship. Jae Hong Jae Hong

HE’S FIVE SHOTS off the lead but Rory McIlroy can be very satisfied with his first round at the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.

Returning from an ankle injury which forced him to withdraw from last month’s Open, the defending champion carded a score of -1 for the day in windy conditions in Wisconsin.

The overnight lead belongs to Dustin Johnson, whose impressive -6 round keeps him one stroke clear of Sweden’s David Lingmerth heading into Friday.

Dustin Johnson, who leads after the first round of the PGA Championship, hits a drive on the 16th. Jae Hong Jae Hong

McIlroy had a bogey-birdie start to his first round, before playing five consecutive pars — including an excellent shot from the water to the green on the fifth to save par.

A bogey on the 8th was followed by a birdie to conclude his front nine. Further birdies on 11 and 16 brought McIlroy to -2, but a bogey on the difficult 18th saw the 2014 champion settle for a 71 — an encouraging start given his lengthy injury absence.

“It was a game of two nines, I guess you could say,” McIlroy told Sky Sports afterwards. “I was really just trying to hold on in the front nine, and then there was a few more chances on the back.

Rory McIlroy plays a shot from the water to the 5th green. Brynn Anderson Brynn Anderson

“But it was great to be back, obviously. I was quite nervous on the first tee, not having hit a competitive shot in about two months. I think I was always going to be a little bit nervous.

“The ankle feels great. It’s felt great all week. It’s obviously not an issue. I think you can see how I’m hitting it out there; I can go after it and I’ve got full confidence in it.”

McIlroy was in the marquee group alongside double-major winner Jordan Spieth, who also carded a 71, and Open winner Zach Johnson, who finished three strokes further back.

It was a disappointing start for Pádraig Harrington, seen here playing an approach shot to the 16th. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Despite an encouraging start, Graeme McDowell signed off with three consecutive bogeys to finish +1. Pádraig Harrington, Shane Lowry and Darren Clarke will all have work to do if they’re to make it into the weekend, following final scores of +4, +6 and +6 respectively.

Leaders

Dustin Johnson -6; David Lingmerth -5; Russell Henley, Matt Kuchar, Harris English, JB Holmes, Jason Day, Danny Lee, Matt Jones, Scott Piercy all -4.

Selected others

Justin Rose -3; Paul Casey, Martin Kaymer both -2; Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth both -1; Bubba Watson, Lee Westwood, Phil Mickelson, Luke Donald all level par; Rickie Fowler, Graeme McDowell both +1; Tiger Woods, Ian Poulter, Patrick Reed, Zach Johnson all +3; Adam Scott, Pádraig Harrington both +4; Shane Lowry, Darren Clarke both +6.

Click here to view the full leaderboard.

Rory McIlroy played his ball from the water to the green to brilliantly save par

Anthony Rizzo goes to extreme lengths to make this outrageous catch