Rory McIlroy so solid in South Africa

Rory McIlroy made a strong start to his 2017 campaign at the BMW SA Open, as the world number two carded an opening five-under-par 67 at Glendower GC.

The Irishman produced seven birdies and two bogeys in his first competitive round since November to lie only one shot behind first-round leaders Trevor Fisher Jnr and Keith Horne.

After starting with a run of four straight pars, McIlroy took advantage of perfect scoring conditions to reel off four straight birdies from the 14th, with further gains coming on the second, sixth — where he almost carded a hole-in-one — and eighth.