Golf: McIlroy storms into lead

AUGUSTA: Rory McIlroy charged into a commanding early first-round lead in the 75th Masters, sinking seven birdies for a stunning round of 65. The 21-year-old had purposely favoured a low-key approach to his third campaign at Augusta National after missing the cut last year and it paid immediate dividends as he bagged three birdies in a row from the second. He went out in 32 and picked up more shots at 11, 14 and 15 where his eagle putt came agonisingly close to dropping in before signing for a pace-setting 65, his best round to date at Augusta by five shots. That was four strokes clear of next best among the early starters, England’s Ross Fisher and Brandt Snedeker.



Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th, 2011.