Mixed day as McIlroy opens with round of 69

Rory McIlroy’s bid for a first FedEx Cup title – and with it a bonus of £6m – got off to an eventful start in the Tour Championship in Atlanta yesterday.

McIlroy is one of five players who know victory at East Lake would also see them secure the overall FedEx Cup title won by Sweden’s Henrik Stenson last year, the others being Chris Kirk, Billy Horschel, Bubba Watson and Hunter Mahan.

And the world number one was just two off the lead after playing his first 18 holes in one under par 69 as the 29-strong field found scoring conditions unexpectedly difficult.