Rory rises above all in the thin air in Mexico, leads WGC-Mexico

Mexico City, Feb 21: Rory McIlroy hoping to complete a set of all four WGC titles took a two-shot first round lead at the WGC-Mexico Championship. McIlroy, who got back to World Number One recently after a four and a half year gap, continued his fine run of form with a six under par 65 at Chapultepec Golf Club.

The Northern Irishman, who won the WGC-HSBC Champions in November, has won every other World Golf Championships title. McIlroy seeks to join Dustin Johnson as the only player with all four World Golf Championships titles.

Tiger Woods is skipping the event this week,

McIlroy got off to a great start after a stunning second shot into the par five 11th hole – his second hole – fetched him an eagle, and he finished with a pair of closing birdies.

He is two clear of Bubba Watson and Justin Thomas.Louis Oosthuizen was one of four players a shot further back on three under, while his fellow European Tour Members Tyrrell Hatton, Paul Casey, Patrick Reed and Lee Westwood all carded two under par rounds of 69 to sit four off the lead.

McIlroy has switched back to his old putter for the WGC-Mexico and that combined with his amazing shot making in recent months ensured a fine day, despite the fact that only 18 players of the 72 broke par.

McIlroy smashed a 4-iron from 275 yards into the thin air to 15 feet for eagle on his second hole and made five more birdies in his 6-under 65.

Abraham Ancer of Mexico got some of the biggest cheers, especially when he ran off three straight birdies to overcome a rough start. He opened with a 70.

Though the thin air helps a big hitter like McIlroy, it was also his putting that was on spot. He needed only 26 putts and was fourth in putting stats for the round.

This week he has gone back to his regular 34-inch putter instead of the 35-inch putter he used at the Riviera a week ago. At Riviera, McIlroy was tied for the 54-hole lead but shot 73 in the final round including a triple bogey on the fifth hole and tied for fifth

Gary Woodland was even with him until a few mistakes on the front nine sent him to a 70. He’s not about to change his game for one week in high altitude.

Dustin Johnson, who has gone a year without winning, opened with a 76.

McIlroy said, “It was good. All aspects of my game were working pretty well today. I drove the ball well, and I took advantage of that. I think the big thing was I putted well. I didn’t putt so well at Riviera last week. I went back to my old putter; I was trying a new one last week. It didn’t quite work out the way I wanted it to, but I was comfortable on the greens today and holed some nice ones coming in.

“I’ve always played well at altitude. I’ve played well in Crans over in Europe a few years. I finished second there last year, I obviously finished second here last year. I think I’ve got the altitude pretty figured out.

“I think I have a pretty good formula for it, and I can hit the ball a long way here, which helps, and then my distance control has been pretty good. That combined with not really guessing too much over things. Certainty goes a long way, especially around this place.”

First-Round Leaderboard

Rory McIlroy                      65 (-6)

Bubba Watson                   67 (-4)

Justin Thomas                    67 (-4)

Louis Oosthuizen               68 (-3)

Billy Horschel                     68 (-3)

Corey Conners                   68 (-3)

Bryson DeChambeau         68 (-3)

 

Things to Know

 

 Rory McIlroy (1st/65)

  • Rory McIlroy seeks to join Dustin Johnson as the only player with all four World Golf Championships titles
  • 6-under 65 included one eagle, five birdies and one bogey; Began the week ranked No. 2 behind Dustin Johnson in eagle frequency on TOUR; Made an eagle on his second hole of the tournament (No. 11)

 

Bubba Watson (T2/67)

  • Required a career-best 21 putts while hitting 8 of 18 greens in regulation (previous best; 22 putts/R1/2010 WGC FedEx St. Jude Invitational)

 

Justin Thomas (T2/67)

  • Hit 9 of 14 fairways, 10 of 18 greens, and took 25 putts en route to 4-under 67; Ranked No. 1 in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee (+2.520)

 

Dustin Johnson ((T62/76)

  • Defending champion Dustin Johnson (T62/76) posted his second-highest 18-hole score in this event (79/R4/2016, 76/R3/2010, 76/R4/2009)

 

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