Local boy shines in Charlotte as Rory five shots off

Rory McIlroy is five shots off the lead after day one of the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow.

The US Open champion, who won the event in 2010, is two under after a 70.

North Carolina’s Webb Simpson led a group of three players on seven under par at the end of the first round of the tournament in Charlotte.

Simpson, who lives within spitting distance of thevenue, shot a 65 to sit alongside fellow Americans Stewart Cink and Ryan Moore.

Simpson’s round, played in the company of Tiger Woods, was highlighted by an eagle at the par-four eighth and also contained six birdies as well as a single bogey.

“I was nervous playing with Tiger. I prayed a lot out there,” Simpson said on www.pgatour.com.

“Once I made a couple birdies, I kind of enjoyed it.”

With four bogeys and three birdies, Woods could manage only a one-under 71.

Cink was flawless with seven birdies in his round of 65, while Moore managed nine birdies against two bogeys.

A shot behind in a group of five players on six under were Rickie Fowler and England’s Brian Davis

Lee Westwood’s round was spoiled by a double bogey at the 16th and a single at 18 which left him one under alongside Woods.

Defending champion Lucas Glover was level par, as was Scotland’s Martin Laird.

Meanwhile at the Spanish Open in Seville Peter Lawrie is best of the Irish one one under heading into day two.

Gareth Maybin and Simon Thornton are tied on one over while Damien Mc Grane and Michael Hoey are both three over.

Shaun Micheel is one clear on five under.