McIlroy in share of lead

RORY MCILROY came from five strokes back to match American Keegan Bradley’s four under par 67 and leave Darren Clarke and Charl Schwartzel way behind after the first round of the 36-hole PGA Grand Slam of Golf at Port Royal in Bermuda.

The event brings together the season’s four major champions, with the winner earning almost £380,000 and even the player finishing last taking home more than £125,000.

McIlroy birdied three of the last five holes, but both Clarke and South African Schwartzel triple-bogeyed the short 16th as they managed only 77 and 74 respectively.

Bradley, whose victory in the USPGA Championship in August came in his first major appearance, went to the turn in a dazzling 30 to lead by four.

He actually started with a bogey, but then came eagles on the second and seventh and birdies at the third, sixth and ninth.

“I finished really, really well,” said McIlroy. “It was a bonus to par 16 and birdie 17 in that bad weather and I’m in a good position going into tomorrow.

“The greens were, for me, very difficult to read. I think if I had spent a bit more time on them maybe I would have figured them out a bit better today.

“I’ll have to just read more into the grain and really take that into consideration instead of just the slopes.”

Clarke commented: “It was absolute crap and I didn’t come all the way here to play that bad, so obviously I’m disappointed.

“I’ve just been struggling with my swing, so if you mix that with putting equally as bad that usually doesn’t add up to a good score.

“I’ll try to find the answer in the bottom of a glass this evening and see how that works.

“I have not hit the ball any good really since The Open. I’ve been trying to change things, which is probably foolish, but I’m trying to get a little bit better.

“After 77 I should probably stay out a little later than planned because I probably couldn’t do any worse tomorrow, but we’ll see.”