• Shanghai Masters, Round One

McIlroy storms ahead of Westwood in Shanghai

Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood were cordial at Lake Malaren © Getty Images

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Rory McIlroy showed he has been unaffected by the current speculation surrounding him as he jumped into an early lead at the Shanghai Masters after an imperious round of 64.

McIlroy, who remains a hot topic of conversation in the media after his surprise decision to leave long-term agency ISM for the Irish-based Horizon, savaged the Lake Malaren golf course on the way to his eight-under par total, enough to had him a one-shot lead.

The Northern Irishman, who did not have a bogey all round, went out in 33 but stormed home in 31 to edge ahead of Hunter Mahan, who recorded a 65 of his own.

Paul Casey, Ian Poulter and Padraig Harrington helped their chances of ending otherwise disappointing years on a high note with six-under par opening rounds - with the Irishman recording one of just two eagles on the day at the par-five 15th.

McIlroy's partner for the first two days, Lee Westwood, struggled in comparison to the 22-year-old - recovering after a sluggish start to record a unspectacular round of 69 that already leaves him five off the lead.

"Quite happy," Westwood said on Twitter afterwards. "Not played much in the last three weeks. Bit rusty. Putted nice."

Anthony Kim is also in the hunt after an opening round of 68, alongside the best-placed home player at the event, Li Chao.

Other notables include Masters champion Charl Schwartzel (70) and US PGA victor Keegan Bradley (72), while YE Yang was the other player to record an eagle during his three-under opening effort.

The 30-man field are vying for a $2 million winner's cheque, the richest in the sport - although the event is not sanctioned by any major tour and thus does not carry any world ranking points.

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