Rory blazes early trail at Muirfield

Not even a left knee injury could stop a limping Rory McIlroy from striding imperiously into the lead in the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village last night.

But after picking up two early birdies before tweaking his knee hitting a three wood to the seventh, the in-form Holywood hot-shot still made two eagles, six birdies and a double bogey to lead by two from clubhouse leaders Paul Casey, Chris Kirk and Masters champion Bubba Watson on eight under.

Out in four under 32 despite tweaking his knee on the seventh, he then birdied the 10th from four feet and eagled the par-five 11th, reducing the 570-yard par-five to a drive, a mid iron and a 27 foot putt before making another birdie at the 13th to get to eight under par.