Rory McIlroy three off pace on return to torrid Olympia Fields

Rory McIlroy tees off at the 12th hole ona tough opening day of the BMW Open, in which his even-par 70 left him three strokes off the lead Picture: Charles Rex Arbogast/AP

Rory McIlroy carded an even-par 70 to be three shots off the pace after the first round of the BMW Championship at the testing Olympia Fields course on Thursday.

The former world No 1 battled hard throughout to end in a tie for fourth behind pacemaker Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, who shot a 67 to end a stroke ahead of American Tyler Duncan.