Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry make solid start on ‘benign’ opening day at PGA National

The country men are both on four-under par.

Rory McIlroy hits from the rough on the eighth (Marta Lavandier/AP)

Rory McIlroy hit five birdies as he opened the Cognizant Classic in Florida with a four-under-par 67.

A bogey on the 17th was the only blemish on McIlroy’s card as he finished three strokes off the pace on a day of favourable conditions at PGA National.