Golf: McIlroy sets early Hong Kong lead

HONG KONG: World number two Rory McIlroy fired what he described as the best round he has played at the Hong Kong Open, a six-under-par 64 to take the early lead on day one of the event. The 22-year-old has twice been runner-up in Hong Kong – in 2008 and 2009 – but left the course delighted by a bogey-free round played in blustery conditions. His opening 18 holes left him three-strokes clear of the chasing pack. “It’s my best round here for sure,” said McIlroy. “I handled the wind pretty well today and I think I have shot a 63 here once but this was better than that given the conditions.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 2^nd, 2011.