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Mcllroy storms to lead at European Masters

04/09/2008

Teenage star Rory Mcllroy fired a sensational first round of eight-under-par 63 to take the lead at the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre.

The Northern Ireland rookie holed five birdies in the front nine before adding a further four birdies on the back nine, and only had the solitary bogey in the round. Mcllroy heads into round two three shots ahead of Welsh pair Garry Houston and Kyron Sullivan and Argentinian Julio Zapata.

Defending champion Brett Rumford is one of a number of players on four-under-par and he is joined on the same score by Scotsman Gary Orr, Englishman Ross McGowan and Spanish Open champion Peter Lawrie.

Mcllroy has had a disappointing year so far but hoped this round, his best as a professional, would lead to bigger and better performances.

"This has been a long time coming for me as I have struggled over the last few months but a score like this really boosts your confidence," said McIlroy. "Hopefully I can kick on from here and keep on doing what I am doing.

"I have been hitting the ball well in recent months but have been getting nothing out of it. In this round I was getting up and down well and making a few putts which made all the difference.

"It has been a great learning year for me and I have learnt a lot of new things about the game. My game is coming along nice and gradually and maybe by the time I am 24 or 25 I will be contending for some majors and be in a position to fulfil my ambitions."