McIlroy shares early lead
MIAMI (AFP) — Rory McIlroy fired a six-under par 66 to share the lead with American Daniel Berger and Mexico’s Abraham Ancer after Thursday’s opening round of the 22nd Hero World Challenge.
Four-time major winner McIlroy, playing the 20-man invitational event for the first time since 2013, made clutch pars at 16 and 18 to keep his place among the leaders at the Albany resort in the Bahamas.
Americans Webb Simpson, Brooks Koepka and Justin Thomas shared fourth on 67, with Thomas stumbling out of the lead due to a closing double bogey.
The event, featuring 17 of the world’s top 25 golfers, was not contested last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, ranked 179th, defends the crown he won in 2019.
World No. 8 McIlroy birdied three of the first five holes but stumbled with a double bogey at the ninth.
The 32-year-old Northern Ireland star began the back nine with back-to-back birdies and added an eagle at the par-4 14th. McIlroy followed with a birdie at the par-5 15th and parred in from there.
“I was really proud of myself after that double bogey. I played the back nine 5-under. That was a good response to that little setback,” McIlroy said.
“I played the par-5s at par. That’s not good enough to win out here. I can’t rely upon doing what I did today over the next three days.”
McIlroy, who has bounced back after a disappointing performance in Europe’s Ryder Cup loss to the United States in September, seeks his third victory of the year after PGA titles at Quail Hollow in May and the CJ Cup in suburban Las Vegas in October.
“I set my standards a little higher than that, but I think I turned a corner after the Ryder Cup,” McIlroy said.
“My game today has been a continuation of how I’ve felt. I left a few out there today. Overall. the game is feeling a lot better.”
Berger, playing his first event in 88 days since the 2020-2021 season-ending Tour Championship in Atlanta in September, opened with four birdies and added another at the seventh.
Berger, ranked 17th, eagled the par-5 11th but took a bogey at the par-3 12th before answering with a birdie at the par-5 15th. A botched chip at 18 led to a closing bogey.
“It’s a great field and when you show up here you want to win,” Berger said.
“A little rusty, haven’t played in a while, but I did pretty good.”
World No. 12 Ancer, who won his first PGA title in August at Memphis, made birdies at the third and seventh before closing the front nine with a bogey, then followed with birdies on five of the next seven holes.
“Very solid round. Happy with all of my bag,” Ancer said.
“The highlight was definitely my putter. I rolled it nicely.”
I was really proud of myself after that double bogey. I played the back nine 5-under.