• World Cup of Golf, Round One

Rory and GMac trail Australia by two

ESPN staff
November 24, 2011
Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell were not distracted by a fake volcano © Getty Images
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Ireland pair Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell trail leaders Australian by two shots after the opening round of the World Cup of Golf.

Hopes are high that McIlroy can cap a superb year, which yielded a maiden major success, with victory alongside his great friend at Mission Hills in China.

The duo made a fine start with a birdie on the first and the fourball format saw them post a bogey-free round of 63. An eagle on the par-five sixth was the highlight, but it could have been better as both missed short birdie putts on the 16th.

The 18th proved tricky towards the end of the day as the wind whipped up and McIlroy and McDowell failed to find the surface, but McIlroy got up and down from a horrid position for par.

McIlroy was the major attraction, but it was the Australia duo of Richard Green and Brendon Jones who stole the show with a stunning 11-under 61. Their round featured two eagles, including a two at the 16th, as they entered the clubhouse with a two-shot lead.

Scotland pairing Stephen Gallagher and Martin Laird are well in the hunt after matching McDowell and McIlroy with a round of 63 - while USA and Netherlands are well placed at eight-under.

Justin Rose and Ian Poulter of England are five adrift of the leaders following a 66, while defending champions Italy - represented by the Molinari brothers - are a shot further back after a 67.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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