• WGC-HSBC Championship, Round One

McIlroy off to shaky start in Shanghai

Rory McIlroy is hunting down Luke Donald in the Race to Dubai © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Westwood & Rory boost hopes of catching Donald
  
• Profile: Paul Casey | KJ Choi | Simon Dyson | Matteo Manassero | Rory McIlroy | Alexander Noren | Ian Poulter | Justin Rose | Bo Van Pelt | Lee Westwood

Leaderboard

Rory McIlroy shot a solid if unspectacular two-under round of 70 on the opening day at the WGC-HSBC Championship in Shanghai.

McIlroy is currently chasing world No. 1 Luke Donald in both ranking and the Race to Dubai. Donald, though, has missed this event due to the impending birth of his daughter and may not play another European Tour event until the season-ending Dubai World Championship.

However, with a golden opportunity in Donald's absence, it did not all go to plan for McIlroy. The Ulsterman bogeyed his first hole, the par-four tenth, before steadying his round courtesy of seven consecutive pars.

Two birdies in his final four holes, including a delightful piece of play on the sixth hole, saw McIlroy remain in contention as his focus shifts to day two.

"You've got to believe in yourself and trust in your own abilities that you are going to hit good shots at some point during the round and luckily for me I hit a few good ones coming in and was able to make a couple of birdies."

Despite not getting off to a flyer, McIlroy says he is feeling optimistic his best golf is ahead of him. "It's got big fairways, it's playing pretty long. I feel I'm driving the ball pretty well so if I can just take advantage of that over the next three days I feel as though I've got a good chance," he added.

Keegan Bradley finished the day as leader following his impressive seven-under 65. The American started his round with a birdie, but it was with an eagle on the 18th that saw the US PGA champion really take charge on the leaderboard.

Fredrik Jacobson, Bo Van Pelt and Alexander Noren head the chasing pack at five-under par. Jacobson went out in 35 but an eagle and two birdies on his final three holes helped him to a 67. Fellow Swede Noren got off to a poor start when bogeying the first. However, he quickly moved on, picking up six shots to finish the day in a great position.

Thongchai Jaidee and KJ Choi are one shot further back on four-under. Choi's round promised to be so much more, but three bogeys saw his chances of taking the first-round honours away from Bradley scuppered.

Englishmen Ian Poulter and Paul Casey sit alongside McIlroy at two-under, while compatriots Simon Dyson and Lee Westwood are three-under. Westwood created one of the highlights of the round as he hit the pin in spectacular fashion to allow for a tap-in eagle at the 14th.

Justin Rose produced an action-packed round, rolling in two eagles, three bogeys and three birdies en route to a four-under 68 for a share of fifth. Meanwhile, Matteo Manassero had a day to forget, the Italian firing a 10-over 82, to leave him with a mountain to climb just to make the cut.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.