McIlroy shines as rivals tumble

It was a day to remember for Rory McIlroy in The Masters today – and one to forget for Padraig Harrington and world number one Martin Kaymer.

While they shot 77 and 78 respectively – Harrington nearly pulled out with neck trouble – McIlroy charged into an early three-stroke clubhouse lead with a dazzling seven-under-par 65.

It brought back memories of the 21-year-old’s major record-equalling first-round 63 in The Open at St Andrews last July.

But that is where he hopes the comparisons end – McIlroy followed it with an 80.

America’s leading money-winner last year, Matt Kuchar, and South African Charl Schwartzel stood four under, but then Korean YE Yang – Asia’s only winner of a major so far – eagled the 510-yard 13th to go to five under and so cut McIlroy’s advantage to two in mid-afternoon.

Tiger Woods, meanwhile, started with a three-birdie, two-bogey 71, while defending champion and favourite Phil Mickelson, in the second-last group of the day, kicked off with seven straight pars before making his first birdie at the long eighth.

McIlroy said: “It was not as explosive or as spectacular as St Andrews, but it was very solid and it’s a great start.”

The best at The Masters, in fact, since Greg Norman’s 63 in 1996.

“I felt as if my game’s been really good all season and after working on my game in Florida for 10 days with my coach Michael Bannon I feel very comfortable.

“I’m still relatively inexperienced, but I feel I am pretty quick learner. There’s no substitute for experience and I’ve still got a lot of learning to do, but I am getting there.

“It was nice to see a few putts drop in as well and hopefully I can build on it.

“I think what happened at St Andrews will be a massive help. It was a very valuable lesson in my development as a golfer.”

After saving par from the fairway bunker at the first he birdied the next three from two, five and 20 feet, made a 10-footer on the ninth to turn in 32.

The 505-yard 11th is probably Augusta’s toughest hole, but he struck a five-iron to eight feet for his fifth birdie and, after three-putting the long 13th for par, picked up further shots at the next two.

First he holed from 10 feet again and then he was on in two at the par-five 15th and two-putted.

Woods has not won for nearly 17 months and has been working on swing changes since August.

“You have trust it now – we’re in a major championship and it’s full systems go,” he said before adding that he felt he was still right in the hunt “only six back”.

Lee Westwood, who had the big setback of a six on the long eighth after “over-hooking” his second, had to settle for a 72 and again was not happy with his putting.

“It’s how my game is at the moment,” said the world number two. “If you can’t hole it out from four feet, you’re going to struggle, aren’t you?”

Harrington’s 77 matched his worst ever round on the course and he commented: “I nearly pulled out before I started.

“I haven’t even come close to swinging the club. I wanted to pull out, but I wouldn’t – that’s just my nature.

“But it wasn’t much fun. I always have to be wary – I was swinging the left-handed shot, just warming up and it just kind of clicked.”

Kaymer is heading for a fourth successive missed cut in the event and his 78 represented a new low. He was in joint-last place in the clubhouse with 59-year-old Ben Crenshaw, although struggling Swede Henrik Stenson turned in a nine-over 45.

That included a quintuple bogey eight on the 240-yard fourth.

In contrast, Ross Fisher shared fifth spot after a 69 and Ian Poulter had yet to drop a shot and stood two under after 14, while Justin Rose was on the same mark after seven.

Paul Casey was one over with eight to go, 53-year-old Sandy Lyle was in with a 73, fellow Scot Martin Laird shot 74 on his debut, the same as US Open champion Graeme McDowell.

One worse than that was Luke Donald after 11. It looked as if the jinx of winning the eve-of-tournament par-three competition might strike again.

Yang, who beat Woods head-to-head at the 2009 US PGA, hit a superb wood to 14 feet at the 15th and had an eagle chance to catch McIlroy, but two-putted and was one back.

Spain’s big-hitting Alvaro Quiros joined Kuchar in third spot and still had eight to play, while Mickelson made a great escape from the trees on the 10th to stay at one under.

Poulter, though, bogeyed the 15th and 16th to slip back to level par and Rose’s bogey at the 11th took him to one over.