McIlroy makes himself at home yet again

On a course where he had never failed to break 70 in eight previous visits either as an amateur or professional, the 21-year-old equalled the lowest round in major history with a nine-under-par 63.

And it could so easily have been the first 62 and a three-stroke lead over South African stablemate Louis Oosthuizen after the first day's play.

The Road Hole 17th, always the likeliest place for him to trip up and the scene of Tiger Woods's only bogey as the 2000 and 2005 champion kicked off with a 67, instead saw McIlroy hit a towering six-iron to three feet.

"It sort of went through my mind that 62 would have been the lowest – that's probably why I missed the putt," said the Northern Irishman.

"It's amazing – the only thing that came into my head was watching Tiger at the (2007)

US PGA in Tulsa and he lipped out for 62."

Even when he did the same there remained the possibility of an eagle two on the 357-yard last to separate himself from the 23 previous 63s in majors.

But McIlroy contented himself with a birdie – he pitched to three feet – and the best opening round in the championship's history.

"It sort of made up for 17 a little bit. It would have been lovely to shoot 62, but I can't really complain," added McIlroy.

Then the boy wonder from Holywood near Belfast – leading amateur in the event only three years ago and now the youngest player to have a 63 at a major – rattled through his record at the 'Home of Golf'.

Starting with two rounds in the amateur Links Trophy, continuing through the Dunhill Links and ending with yesterday, it was staggering – "69, 69, 67, 68, 67, 68, 65, 69, 63."

That comes to 43 under par and goodness knows what it will be at the end of the week.

Not that the scores really matter now. It is all about the Claret Jug and his bid for a first major just a month after fellow Ulsterman and close friend Graeme McDowell broke his duck at the US Open.

There was no problem identifying the hole which ignited his challenge.

Only one under on a morning when world No 455 John Daly, inspired on his return to the course where he won in 1995, reached seven under after 11 holes, McIlroy drove the green on the 352-yard ninth and sank a 15-foot eagle putt.

"It really got me going," he said.

He came home in 30 with birdies at the 10th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th and the last.

Daly, in contrast, cooled on the way home and posted a 66, as did playing partner and former Ryder Cup player Andrew Coltart, the Scot himself only 408th on the rankings and back inside the ropes after two years of radio work.

The wind was picking up as they finished, but that did not stop Oosthuizen threatening to at least catch McIlroy.

The 27-year-old, who had his first European Tour victory in March, charged to eight under with three to play, but bogeyed the lengthened 17th and parred the other two.

Daly and Coltart, meanwhile, were joined in third spot by Kent-based Challenge Tour player Steve Tiley, Welshman Bradley Dredge and Swede Peter Hanson.

Lee Westwood, playing with a torn calf muscle, had five successive birdies from the fifth, but played the other 13 holes in level par.

Tom Watson, one putt away from winning at the age of 59 last year, could not reproduce that magic and handed in a 73.

Stewart Cink, the man who beat him in a play-off, scored 70, one better than US Masters champion and world No 2 Phil Mickelson, who had to wait until the final green for his first birdie.

World No 3 Westwood bemoaned the luck of the draw after he got the worst of the conditions in the first round.

The 37-year-old thought he would be even further behind, saying: "The morning was a piece of cake, you could kick it around in a decent score.

"The course was defenceless and I expected someone to shoot 62 for the first time (in a major). The difference for the early and late starters was huge.

"As it does around here the wind blows and we (the afternoon starters) got unlucky with the weather – but that's the nature of links golf.

"Hopefully we might get a break with the weather (this morning)."