McIlroy satisfied with Open start

World number four Rory McIlroy described his opening round of 69 at The Open Championship as a “solid start”.

The Northern Irishman held a share of the lead after birdies on the fourth, sixth, seventh and eighth but a double-bogey on the 13th set him back.

McIlroy is currently tied 14th, three shots behind leader Patrick Reed of the USA, and he was satisfied to finish the day on -2.

He told Sky Sports: “After a slow start I made a run of birdies. Ten and 11 were the hardest on the course and I negotiated those pretty well. Something in the 60s was a solid start.”

Meanwhile the world number one Jason Day did not make the most of a slightly more forgiving front nine and after eight pars on the homeward nine bogeyed the last holes to finish on a first round score of two over par.

Tagged Rory McIlroy