World No. 1 Rory McIlroy found himself upstaged by a player ranked 506 higher on the World Rankings on day one of his defence of the UBS Hong Kong Open title.
A tired-looking McIlroy posted a three over par 73 to trail 10 shots behind Spain’s Javier Colomo who recorded a career-best of a seven under par 63 in bright but windy conditions on the suburban Fanling course.
Colomo, 28 lost his card last year on the European secondary Challenge Tour and this season has been competing on the Asian Tour.
The Caceres-born Colomo, who is competing in Hong Kong for a first occasion, commenced his round from the 11th hole and after 10 straight pars he stormed to the top of the board in the $US 2m event with six birdies over his closing eight holes.
“After losing my card on the Challenge Tour, I was lucky to qualify for the Asian Tour and I’m not 33rd on the rankings,” said Colomo.
“That’s perfect, because I now get to play co-sanctioned tournaments like this on the European Tour.
“So it’s been a good chance for me to improve, and why not try and win a tournament and get myself onto the European Tour.”
Fellow Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez and Australia’s Andrew Dodt share second place with scores of five under par 66s.
Jimenez is a former double UBS Hong Kong Open champion and if should capture a third the 48-year old will not break his record of being the oldest Hong Kong Open winner in 2008 but the Malaga golfer would become the oldest-ever winner in the 40-year history of the European Tour.
“I am like a good bottle of rioja because I just better with age,” smiled Jimenez.
And fellow Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal put himself in frame to end a seven year Tour winless drought in playing alongside his compatriot and being among five players signing for 67s.
Olazabal also is a former Hong Kong Open winner having captured the event in 2002.
Rory McIlroy forced into playing a shot left-handed during his first round of the 2012 UBS Hong Kong Open. (Photo – Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ie)
McIlroy’s defence began poorly with a bogey at the first before his only birdie of the round at the par five, third hole.
He dropped a shot at the sixth after being forced to play his second shot left-handed from beside a bush, and then also bogeyed 14 and 15.
“I just lacked a bit of energy out there, I felt a bit lethargic and mentally more than physically, if I am being honest,” he said.
“I bogeyed the first but then just got more frustrated as the round went on. I just felt like I was hitting some decent shots and just not really converting any chances for birdies and I just let it go a little bit.”
McIlroy arrived in the Chinese Special Administrative District for his sixth straight UBS Hong Kong Open after having added the Race to Dubai title to his achievement in finishing No. 1 on the PGA Tour.
And the 23-year old admitted after shooting a last round 65 to finish third last Sunday in Singapore and wrap-up the European No. 1 crown, it was always going to be difficult motivating himself for Hong Kong.
“I suppose after last week, and winning the Race to Dubai title, it was always going to be a bit of a let down,” he said.
“I feel as though I am playing well enough but I just need to get my head and the golf to match-up and I’ll be okay.”
Included in McIlroy’s round was having to play a shot left-handed (see www.golffile.ie photo) at the sixth hole when his tee shot came to rest against a bush.
McIlroy’s Ryder Cup rival Matt Kuchar birdied two of his three closing holes in a one under par 69 in his first Hong Kong Open showing.
“It was a nice way to finish as the course play hard and it’s a very challenging golf course reminding me a lot of Sea Pines where we play the Heritage but, of course, without the alligators,” he said.
“I couldn’t get much going early on but to hole that five-footer for birdie on the last and get myself into red figures was nice.”
