Rory McIlroy stamped his U.S. Open and World No. 2 stature to set the early mark before being joined by two others on six under par after the first day of the UBS Hong Kong Open.
World No. 2 McIlroy was out in the morning half of the draw birding four of his closing nine holes in a six under par 64 on the suburban Fanling.
The reigning U.S Open champion was later joined by Quiros who birdied his 11th hole and eagled the 12th before chipping-in at the last in a similar opening round score.
Horsey capped his round with three birdies in four holes mid round as he seeks to win for a second time this year after capturing the Hassan 11 Trophy in Morocco.
McIlroy’s round is third occasion he’s recorded a 64 in 15 rounds of the Hong Kong course and also just a stroke shy of a 63 he recorded on day one of last year’s event.
“It was a good, very good solid round of golf when I didn’t make a mistake,” he said.
“Six birdies and no bogeys is always a nice way to start the tournament.”
McIlroy arrived in the Special Administrative Region looking to make amends for two prior second place finishes in the Hong Kong event and also having recorded six other top-four finishes either side of June’s Congressional success.
“I felt this year that I’ve definitely let two or three tournaments slip away from me this year,” he said.
“That’s something I’m trying to work on so that doesn’t happen. But as long as I get myself I these positions and start winning more regularly, I think it becomes a habit and hopefully I’ll do it more often.”
Horsey, 26 was a team-mate of McIlroy’s in the losing 2007 GB & I Walker Cup side, and his score is a lowest by two strokes in seven Hong Kong Open rounds.
But unlike McIlroy, Horsey arrived in Hong Kong lying 42nd on the Race to Dubai and desperate to end his third full European Tour season finishing either inside the top-30 that would guarantee entry into next year’s British Open or top-15 that would also see him join McIlroy contesting the U.S. Open.
“I would love to be exempt next year into The Open and hopefully with a good result this week and next week in Dubai, I can finish top-15 and that would mean a start in the U.S. Open next year,” he said.
“They are two big doors that would open automatically for me and then my next goal is get myself inside the top-50 on the world rankings.
“I’m just outside the top-100 at present (119) but I’d love to throw a couple of wins in and that would help immensely.
“So this round is a good start in that regard and I win this week who knows?”
Quiros captured the Dubai Desert Classic earlier this year but his best finish since then was fifth in May’s Volvo World Match-Play Championship.
The 32-year old Cadiz golfer commenced his round not long after McIlroy had ended his and while Quiros seeks a sixth European Tour success he’s not surprised to see McIlroy’s name heading the field.
“You have to be a little bit lucky to shoot low in these windy conditions and I don’t know if Rory and those in the morning had the same conditions but seeing Rory’s name up there is not a surprise,” said Quiros.
“He seems to be up there every single week.”
Defending Hong Kong Open champion, Ian Poulter was far from pleased with a one over par 71.
And the Briton snapped at one reporter when it was suggested McIlroy his playing partner had laid down the gauntlet for his rivals.
“Are you handing out the trophy today,” snapped Poulter.
“We (England World Cup side) were eight shots behind going into Sunday last week so there’s some golf to play, let me tell you.”
Darkness meant three players will have to return to the course at 7.45am Friday to complete their remaining two holes.
