Golf: Rory McIlroy in share of lead at Crooked Stick

RORY MCILROY birdied his final two holes to earn a four-way share of the clubhouse lead in the first round of the BMW Championship last night, while playing partner Tiger Woods was a shot back.

McIlroy, fresh off his win at the Deutsche Bank Championship on Monday, mixed an eagle, seven birdies and a lone bogey for an eight-under 64 at Crooked Stick that put him atop the leaderboard with Americans Webb Simpson and Bo Van Pelt and Canadian Graham DeLaet.

World No 1 McIlroy and Woodswere paired together along with American Nick Watney and offered fans a side-by-side comparison of golf’s two most intriguing figures.

The threesome garnered most of the attention as Woods and McIlroy went toe-to-toe producing a scintillating display of quality shot making.

While McIlroy and Woods will do battle later this month for national honours at the Ryder Cup, it was each man for himself as an elite field of 70 players vie for one of 30 spots in the 20-23 September Tour Championship finale in Atlanta, where the overall points winner gets a $10 million bonus.

McIlroy, in top form after winning two of his last three starts, arrived at the PGA Tour’s penultimate FedExCup playoff event leading the points standings.