Golf: Macs start well in Hong Kong

Rory McIlroy again showed his fondness for the Hong Kong Open in shooting a seven-under par 63 on the opening day of the event today.

Playing preferred lies, McIlroy recorded eight birdies with just one bogey to finish near lunch one stroke ahead of England's Simon Dyson.

Dyson capped his round with a hole-in-one at the par-3, 12th hole that the 32-year-old former Dunhill Links champion was playing as his third. Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell, the highest-ranked player at No 9 in the field, bogeyed the last in a round of 65 to be tied in third place early on.

Also at five-under-par was Ireland's Damien McGrane and Korean Young Nam, who received a sponsor's invitation to compete.

Richie Ramsay was well placed after 66, one better than David Drysdale, while Stephen Gallacher and Paul Lawrie both shot 68s.