Rory McIlroy struggles to shake off rust at Quail Hollow

Defending champion Rory McIlroy faces an uphill task if he is to retain the $7.3 million Wells Fargo Championship on the US PGA Tour after yesterday’s first round at Quail Hollow, Charlotte, North Carolina.

The world No.3 had to settle for a one over par 73 that left him seven shots behind Anirban Lahiri, a successful member of the European Tour from India. It was also a difficult day for Pádraig Harrington who finished a stroke further back on 74.

The event provided McIlroy with his first PGA Tour win in 2010 and he won it by seven shots last year. He also has three other top 10 finishes to his name in six starts but for much of yesterday he seemed decidedly rusty in his first tournament appearance for three weeks. He began at the 10th and bogeys at the 12th and 13th and a double bogey at the 18th saw him to the turn in a four over par 40.