Rory regains putting touch to shoot 69

There was plenty of comfort for Rory McIlroy, but not for Darren Clarke, on the opening day of the Wells Fargo Championship in suburban Charlotte, North Carolina.

McIlroy grabbed six birdies in a three under par 69 while Clarke could not wait to remove his left shoe and revealing a nasty blister on the back of his heel after signing for a four over par 76.

While it is just the sixth occasion in 15 rounds that McIlroy has broken 70 at the Quail Hollow course, the world No. 11 capitalised on his length off the tee to birdie three of the four par fives, and also had the putter back on song with his chosen highlights in the round being birdies at the par three sixth and 17th holes.