World No. 1 Rory McIlroy drew first blood in his BMW Championship against Tiger Woods.

McIlroy posted an eight-under 64 to lead Woods into day two, but the American  is only a stroke back after the pair put on a fascinating duel for the watching  public. At the turn both players were locked at four-under, and there were clear  signs that they might bring the best out of each other over the coming days.

“Rory and I played beautifully,” Woods said.

“I was very  fortunate to post the number that I shot.”

Starting on the back nine, Woods looked in greater control of his game as he  birdied five of his opening seven holes. McIlroy, by contrast, was only at  one-under heading into the 15th – his sixth hole of the day, but a superb eagle  closed the gap to his playing partner before a birdie at 18 had them turning on  the same score.

Woods pushed ahead again when he moved to six-under through 11, but a bogey  at No. 4 brought him back level with McIlroy. The pair were level on five-under  with five to play, and six-under with three to play, but McIlroy putted  magnificently – requiring 26 swings of the short stick – to find two more  birdies at the final two holes to snatch the advantage.

“I’m not going out there trying to beat Tiger or anyone else,” said McIlroy.

“I just try to shoot the best score possible.”

McIlroy will head into Friday’s play in a share of the lead with fellow U.S. Open champion, Webb Simpson, Canadian Graham DeLaet and American Bo Van Pelt and one of the most consistent players on the PGA Tour this year.

Woods is just one back on seven under par.

Simpson, a fellow USA Ryder Cup team member of Woods’,  was particularly impressive – requiring 22 putts in a sublime round.

Lee Westwood recovered from a double bogey at 18 or the ninth hole of his round to sign for a 68, leaving  him one stroke adrift of Justni Rose and two behind Luke Donald and level with Graeme McDowell.

Triple Major winning Padraig Harrington singed for a 70.