 |
| Getty Images |
Rory McIlroy picked up seven birdies and two eagles to storm to the top of the leaderboard on the first day of Jack Nicklaus' Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio.
But the Northern Irishman, who won the BMW PGA Championship on Sunday, might have been five strokes clear of the field had he not spoiled his remarkable run over the back nine with a double bogey on the par four 14th hole.
He rallied to card an impressive nine under 63, while England's Paul Casey shot a six under 66 earlier on Thursday to take a share of second place with Americans Bubba Watson and Chris Kirk.
McIlroy continued his winning momentum from Wentworth Club to Muirfield Village.
Birdies on the second, fourth and seventh holes followed a run of two birdies and an eagle over the turn before he picked up a sixth shot on 13.
At eight under he was two strokes clear of the three men who had already carded 66, but briefly joined Casey and the American duo in a tie for the lead after finding the rear bunker on 14 and needing a total of six shots to hole out.
McIlroy remedied that situation immediately by draining a 15 foot putt to claim his second eagle of the day before adding one final birdie on the 16th.
Casey started with a bogey but reached the turn four under having drained an eagle on the par five seventh.
He mixed three more birdies with a bogey between 14 and 17 while Kirk's seven birdies and a bogey kept him in sight of the lead.
Reigning Masters Tournament champion Watson might well have finished on eight under but dropped shots on 16 and 17.
With Adam Scott recently rising to the World No. 1 ranking, all eyes are on the Aussie to see if he can cement his position well into the 2014 season.
However the prominent victory of a young Northern Irishman last week sent a warning that there may be a new contender on the block, aside from Scott, World No. 2 Henrik Stenson and the injured Tiger Woods.
This week Rory McIlroy jumped up into the World No. 6 position and the move also sparked speculation that he and Scott may be the next Woods / Mickelson style rivalry.
Certainly, Rory hasn’t held back heading into this week’s The Memorial tournament. After Round 1 McIlroy has a two shot lead over the field, a 9-under 63 a clear indication that his game is as strong as it has ever been.
Scott’s opening round was solid but certainly not as showy; a 3-under 69 placing him in the top 15.
The Queenslander is the first Australian to reach World No. 1 since Greg Norman relinquished the position in January 1998, the importance of the achievement not lost of the Aussie.
The Memorial tournament continues over the weekend with McIlroy and Scott partnering Aussie Jason Day for the opening two rounds.
