Rory McIlroy finished strongly to put himself in the mix after day one of the WGC-HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai.
The former world number started on the back nine and made bogey on the 10th. McIlroy dropped three shots in his first nine but broke even after making three birdies before the turn.
The four-time Major winner made his charge on his second nine with four birdies in a row between the 2nd and 5th hole.
McIlroy moved to five-under par with a three on his 16th, leaving him three shots behind leader Haotong Li.
Four birdies in a row.@McIlroyRory is in a groove right now.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/ArGsRNbEUR
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 31, 2019
Open champion Shane Lowry is level par despite making five birdies in his round.
South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen provided the highlight of the opening round with a hole in one at the par three sixth holes.
How about this shot by @Louis57TM. 🙌
The first #ULTRAace of this year's WGC-HSBC Champions. pic.twitter.com/l3EVMscwPH— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 31, 2019
