Rory McIlroy produced a timely return to form ahead of his US Open title defence next week as he fired an opening two-under-par 68 at the St Jude Classic in Memphis.
McIlroy's round left him two behind clubhouse leader Jeff Maggert.
The Northern Irishman moved to three under after 10 but some long game struggles caused two back nine bogeys.
Padraig Harrington matched McIlroy's 68 but Graeme McDowell is nine behind after an opening 75.
World number two McIlroy went into the event after missing his last three cuts in a rare period of struggle for the 23-year-old.
McDowell, who like McIlroy started at the 10th, dropped to four over after eight with the 2010 US Open champion carding a double bogey at the 15th.
Further shots went at the fourth and seventh and McDowell's only birdie came at his closing hole.
Harrington produced a much steadier round of three birdies and a solitary bogey.
McIlroy hit only nine greens in regulation and missed more than half of his fairways but an excellent putting performance rescued him.
He twice saved par by holing out from more than eight feet and also slotted birdie putts of 16 and 10 feet.
Maggert's round left him a shot ahead of Arjun Atwal and Jeff Overton, who had also completed their rounds.
McIlroy and Harrington were joined on two under by Robert Allenby and Chad Campbell.
No comments:
Post a Comment