Rory McIlroy gave his new equipment a rousing thumbs up producing a sizzling 67 on the opening day of the BMW South African Open.
McIlroy birdied four holes in succession near the end of his round to be among five players tied in second place and just a shot behind the leading local pair of Trevor Fisher Jnr and Keith Horne who both carded six under par rounds of 66.
McIlroy’s effort, with new Callaway clubs and a Titleist ball, was 10 shots fewer than a horror 75 on debut four years ago in Abu Dhabi using Nike equipment for a first occasion.
“Yeah, really happy with the new clubs in my bag and very pleased,” he said.
“It was good start considering this is my first competitive round of 2017.
Rory McIlroy on route to a 67 on day one of the BMW SA Open. (Photo – European Tour).
“I felt like I gave myself a lot of chances on our front nine, the back nine. That four under could have been probably six or seven but it way to start.
“It was a bit scrappy in places around the last few holes but five under par is a good way to start to start this tournament.
“Weather-wise, not much wind, there was a score t be had out there. I think 67 I am pleased with but I feel that if we get conditions like that for the rest of the week I can definitely go lower.”
McIlroy has been enticed to South Africa for a first occasion since 2012 by Ernie Els while it’s also a first time since then he’s not commenced a new season in Abu Dhabi.
After four opening pars, the Northern Irishman put his approach to the par three 14th close to set up a first birdie of the day and he rattled off two more before a 20-footer on the 17th left him just two off the lead after nine holes.
A five-footer on the second had him within one but he failed to get up and down after poor approaches to the fourth and fifth and found himself three back.
His tee-shot to the par three sixth threatened a hole-in-one as it rolled back towards the cup to leave a tap-in and after an excellent par save on the seventh, he recovered from a wayward tee-shot on the eighth to take advantage of the par five.
“The tee shot I had on 14th, the par three, that one went pretty close,” he added. “I think I made three twos today so that was nice. I played the par threes very well.
“But I had a lot of nice shots, I had some good iron shots. I had some really good drives on the front nine, the first nine holes, and so that was encouraging.
“I made a couple of sloppy swings coming in but that’s something that hopefully I can work on and try to eradicate for tomorrow.
“I holed a few nice ones but the ones that I missed I feel a little more speed was needed than anything else.
“I’ve been working hard on my putting, I feel like from August last year to today it’s come on leaps and bounds and I hope it can only improve.”
Fellow Ulsterman Darren Clarke kick-started his 26th season in the pro ranks with three birdies in a row from the seventh in a two under par 70.
