Rory McIlroy leads after first round

The brilliant 21-year-old Rory McIlroy swept to a two-stroke lead in the 2010 Open Championship, after shooting a remarkable 63 over the Old Course. After a quiet start (he was one-under-par after 8 holes) he then eagled the par-4 9th, by driving onto the green and sinking a 15-footer. From then on it was astonishing to watch how confidently he struck the ball. Birdies at the 10th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th and 18th followed, and he came home in 30.
Ever since his great friend, Graeme McDowell, won the US Open last month, he has said he now knows he can win a major. What a story it would be if – come Sunday night – he won the next one.
“I just love this place,” he said afterwards. “It went through my mind on the 17th that I might shoot a 62, which would have been the lowest round in a major. That’s probably why I missed the putt. But 63 is a fantastic score. It was great to get into the rhythm of the round and get into the flow. This is my best ever round here at St Andrews. It just fits my eye really well.”
In his short career, McIlroy has had a habit of shooting really low rounds. As an amateur, he shot a remarkable course record 61 around his home course, the fiendishly difficult Royal Portrush. Then, last month at Quail Hollow, he shot an incredible 62 in the last round, to come from four shots behind to win his first professional event in America. This round, around the Home of Golf in the Open Championship, was right up there with them.
“This is the most special,” he said. “But the 61 was probably slightly better if I’m honest. I’m not complaining though. It would have been lovely to have become the only person to shoot 62 in a major. But, its’ nice to put my name on the few guys that have shot 63.”
It was also a great day for John  Daly, the champion around St Andrews in 1995; and Andrew Coltart from Scotland, both of whom were playing together.
Daly, wearing purple Loudmouth trousers, shot a 66 to be three strokes behind McIlroy; a welcome return to form for a man who is running out of opportunities to play. Several big name tournaments in America have got tired of giving him second chances. If he were to win here this week, such problems would be solved.
Coltart’s story is almost as dramatic. A year ago, he had become part of the media his form had collapsed so much, and was following Tom Watson at Turnberry for Radio 5 Live. Now, he goes into the second round of the Open in joint third place.
The world number one, Tiger Woods, also enjoyed a good day. A bogey on the difficult par-4 Road Hole 17th failed to take the gloss off a great round of 65. Having won the last two Opens around the Old Course, he is nicely positioned, just behind the leaders…

Scores:
Rory McIlroy 63
Louis Oosthuizen 65
John Daly 66
Andrew Coltart 66
Steven Tiley 66
Bradley Dredge 66
Peter Hanson 66
Marcel Siem 67
Nick Watney 67
Lucas Glover 67
Sean O’Hair 67
Tiger Woods 67
Fredrik Andersson Hed 67
Alejandro Canizares 67
Y E Yang 67
Lee Westwood 67
Robert Rock 68
John Senden 68
Ross McGowan 68
Trevor Immelamn 68
Oliver Wilson 68
Ross Fisher 68
Camilo Vilegas 68
Ryo Ishikawa 68
Henrik Stenson 68
Jin Jeong 68
Shane Lowry 68
Vijay Singh 68
Ricky Barnes 68
Paul Lawrie 69
Steve Marino 69
Simon Dyson 69
Robert Allenby 69
Hunter Mahan 69
Ernie Els 69
Mark O’Meara 69