McIlroy sets the pace at US Open

Back in major action for the first time since his Masters meltdown, Rory McIlroy needed only nine holes today to lead the US Open at Congressional.

With nobody knowing for sure whether his closing 80 at Augusta – after he was four in front overnight – had left lasting scars, the 22-year-old Northern Irishman began in brilliant fashion.

Pushing playing partner Phil Mickelson firmly into the shade on his 41st birthday, McIlroy picked up shots on the 12th, 17th and 18th to turn in a three-under-par 32.

And when he sank an eight-foot putt for another birdie at the 402-yard first he was out in front on his own, having relegated Korea’s 2009 US PGA champion YE Yang, South African Rory Sabbatini and Spain’s back-to-form Sergio Garcia into second spot.

As for the world’s top three of Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer - grouped together earlier in the day when conditions were easier – they finished a cumulative 10 over par.

Donald and Kaymer had 74s and pre-tournament favourite Westwood a 75, after which he said: “I didn’t swing it very well and you just don’t get away with it at a US Open.

“If we had played like the top three in the world it would have been more enjoyable for the people to watch, but none of us played well and we all just about got what we deserved.”

Donald began spectacularly, hitting four irons to four feet on the dangerous short 10th and 14 feet to set up another birdie at the 494-yard uphill par four.

But he then had four bogeys in five holes from the 13th and a double-bogey six on the 18th, at 523 yards the second longest par four in US Open history.

Although he came home in one under, great damage had been done to his great expectations and he commented: “There were no fireworks – we just didn’t get on a run.

“At times you need one of the guys to get everyone going and it just didn’t happen today.”

Garcia, in action this week only after surviving a qualifying play-off, birdied the second and long sixth to turn in 34 and then matched Donald’s three on the 11th.

Mickelson, five times a runner-up in the event, hit his opening shot into the lake short of the 10th green, double-bogeyed and was still two over with six to go.

Defending champion Graeme McDowell and Swedes Johan Edfors and Henrik Stenson had been the best of the early European starters with one-under 70s.

McDowell hit back from an opening bogey with two quick birdies and then 12 pars in a row.

He said: “I felt really good this morning. I set myself some challenges – to think well, go through my process and keep patient.

“I just tried to take each hole as it comes and all in all I’m very happy. They’ve taken this course to the edge and you can see some of the greens are stressed.”

The Northern Irishman was halted in his progress for a while when a spectator needed medical attention on the 11th, but parring his way through the entire inward half – much the harder of the two – added to his confident mood.

Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, who won the two previous majors at which Tiger Woods was not playing, would have been one under as well but for a closing bogey six at the long ninth.

He said: “I would have taken it before I went out. If I had birdied the last rather than bogeyed it I would have felt a lot happier, but it was a fair reflection.

“I’ve got a new set of irons and I definitely had a nice bit of control. They’re next year’s model, but I get them six months in advance.”

Compatriot Shane Lowry began his debut with a 72 – what Donald would have given for his three on the 523-yard par four 18th – while Paul Casey shot 73 and Justin Rose 74. He finished with a double-bogey six.

Fellow Englishman Robert Rock was level after nine – no mean effort after arriving at his hotel at 3.30am.

That was caused by problems Sunday’s Italian Open winner had obtaining an American visa. He flew out of London only yesterday and did not play a practice round.

Rock making it just in time meant further disappointment for Scot Richie Ramsay, who was waiting to step in two weeks after turning up late for a play-off in the qualifier at Walton Heath.

Scotland were represented only by Martin Laird and Stephen Gallacher as a result. They were both one over with five to go.