Roaring start for McIlroy, Quiros
 | Alvaro Quiros birdied the final two holes for his 65. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images) |
AUGUSTA, Ga. — For someone who gave up his PGA Tour membership so he could spend more time back home in Northern Ireland, Rory McIlroy is working hard to acclimate himself to sporting life in the United States. Trips to the gym and world-class golf? He’s got that covered. Football skills? Those need some work.
His golf game didn’t need any yesterday, McIlroy fashioning a seven-birdie, no-bogey 65 at Augusta National Golf Club, good for a first-round tie with long-hitting Alvaro Quiros at the 75th Masters, which began with its traditional bow to the past, revered duo Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus ceremoniously ushering in this quintessential rite of spring before stepping aside. The day then delivered golf’s current batch of boys hungry for major championship glory.
Nobody hungrier, perhaps, than McIlroy. He was denied a weekend pass at last year’s Masters, shooting 74-77 to miss the cut, what he termed the low point of his year. Before yesterday, he had never broken 70 here. He quickly established a personal standard, shooting 32 on the front nine before adding three more birdies on the back.
“It’s nice to come out here and shoot a really good round and get into the 60s and get that little monkey off my back,’’ McIlroy said. “I’ve practiced and I’ve prepared myself for this week.’’
His methods might not be considered conventional. McIlroy didn’t touch a club for five weeks during the winter, choosing instead to hit the gym and get stronger. He took three weeks off prior to the Masters, and spent 10 days in Florida, playing golf with some pals and preparing for these four days.
“Everything that I’ve been doing since I got the clubs out again, it’s been working towards Augusta,’’ McIlroy said. “It’s paid off today, and hopefully it can pay off for the next three.’’
Leading a major isn’t new territory for the 21-year-old. In fact, this makes three majors in a row he’s been in front at some point. He set the pace at last year’s British Open at St. Andrews, matching the major championship record with a first-round 63. He led the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits with four holes to play. Both times he finished third, hard on himself for squandering chances.
He’s lightened the mood this time, renting a house near the course that he’s sharing with friends and taking to the street. Literally.
On the eve of the tournament, McIlroy and his mates hit a nearby mall and bought a football. The American version. Throwing it around outside as night fell, a woman from a nearby house came out, barking that the kids were being too loud and telling them to take their game inside.
“I’m learning,’’ he said.
What were you doing out there, running routes?
“No. I wouldn’t . . . it doesn’t . . . I don’t even know what that means.’’
He might not be able to grasp the intricacies of the gridiron game yet, but he’s scored a Masters record, becoming the youngest person to lead the tournament after the first round. Now he’ll hope to avoid what happened last year at the British Open (second-round 80), PGA, or Masters. He used last year’s disappointment at Augusta National to his advantage, coming back the following month and winning his first PGA Tour event in Charlotte, N.C. But McIlroy gave up his tour membership, citing a tinge of homesickness.
“It’s possible that I can go out and shoot another 65, but I also know that it’s very likely that I’m not going to do that,’’ McIlroy said. “I feel as if I’m playing really well, so hopefully I can go out and shoot another good score.’’
Quiros, who played in the day’s final group, birdied the last two holes to join McIlroy at the top. The 28-year-old Spaniard also set a personal best at Augusta National; in two previous visits here, he shot 78-75 and 75-75.
“It was a very nice feeling, a very nice moment I have to recognize,’’ Quiros said. “The weather was perfect, I was playing good, and I was very lucky with the putting, so I couldn’t complain.’’
Quiros won earlier this year on the European Tour, but this marks the first time he’s ever led a major. In fact, he’d only played in eight before this week.
With that, he’s tempering his expectations.
“My target is to make the cut,’’ Quiros said. “It would be stupid to think about shooting 65 again. [Prior to yesterday], 75 was my best round here. It could be just one good round of golf. So to avoid that, I want to think of the next shot that I’m going to have, which is the tee shot on the first hole.’’
K.J. Choi and Y.E. Yang were tied for third at 5 under, with an American pair, Ricky Barnes and Matt Kuchar, another shot back. Defending champion Phil Mickelson bogeyed the 18th hole and shot 70, one shot better than Tiger Woods.
Unless he responds with a low round today, Martin Kaymer will leave the door open for Mickelson, Woods, or someone else to supplant him as the top-ranked player in the world. Kaymer, who has missed the cut in his only three Masters, opened with a 78, ahead of only four players and leaving him perplexed.
“I think that I don’t really know how to play the golf course,’’ said Kaymer, who is 18 over in seven rounds at Augusta National. “I don’t know what I have to do here. Maybe one day it will work out.’’
McIlroy had no such issues. He’s having a ball so far, on the course and off.
Michael Whitmer can be reached at mwhitmer@globe.com 
© Copyright 2011 Globe Newspaper Company.
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