Solid start pleases McIlroy

Rory McIlroy bashed one spectator’s head and turned plenty more at Royal Lytham & St Annes as he safely negotiated the worst of the opening day’s conditions for a 67 that puts him right in the hunt alongside Graeme McDowell heading into today’s Open Championship second round.

A year after being frustrated by his inability to cope with the wind and rain at Royal St George’s, McIlroy returned a relaxed figure, in command of his game for the most part in a round that finished with a birdie at the last and left him at three under par, three shots off the overnight lead of Australia’s Adam Scott.

“I think we had it maybe slightly tougher than the guys in the morning, and 67 was a score I’m very pleased with,” McIlroy said last night. “It was great. I felt like I didn’t miss many fairways. I didn’t miss many greens. I felt like it was pretty much under control. I missed a couple of shots, but you’re not going to hit every shot good out there. I’d rate it pretty high at the moment.”