Rory sets Akron pace

There was a Rory setting the early pace at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron today, but it was South African Rory Sabbatini rather than Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy.

While the 22-year-old US Open champion waited to start his first event in America since becoming a major champion, Sabbatini birdied the first three holes.

Joint runner-up to Tiger Woods in the event four years ago, he pitched close on the first and third and in between made a nine-footer on the long second.

Sabbatini led by a stroke from American Mark Wilson and Swede Alex Noren, who kicked off his second appearance in the tournament with a 30-foot putt at the 10th and then a 119-yard approach to two feet on the next.

Woods was among the later starters in what will be his first event since mid-May because of knee and Achilles tendon injuries. He was paired with new Open champion Darren Clarke.

Sabbatini made it four in a row even though he drove into the rough on the 471-yard fourth, but then cooled down with two pars and found himself only one ahead again with Americans Jonathan Byrd and DA Points quickly reaching three under.

A 145-yard iron to five feet gave world number one Luke Donald an opening birdie on the 10th, while second-ranked Lee Westwood birdied the 11th and last year’s US Open winner Graeme McDowell picked up shots on both the 11th and short 12th.