USA today golf story

McIlroy, Quiros start
strong, share
Masters first-round
lead

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Rory McIlroy (FSY)
teed off in the morning and put up a score
for everyone to chase at the Masters. Then,
after grabbing some lunch, he plopped
down in front of the television to see if
anyone could catch him.

No one did — until a long-hitting Spaniard in
the last group of the day.

Alvaro Quiros (FSY), who had never shot
better than 75 in two previous Masters,
birdied the final two holes under darkening
skies to match McIlroy with a 7-under 65 on
Thursday.

There were plenty of red numbers on the
board, the golfers able to attack the
venerable course on a warm, sunny day with
only a slight hint of a breeze.


South Koreans Y.E. Yang (FSY) and K.J. Choi 
(FSY) were two shots back at 67. Nine other
players were in the 60s. Defending champ
Phil Mickelson (FSY) scrambled for a 70, and
Tiger Woods (FSY) was within striking
distance at 71.

McIlroy, a 21-year-old from Northern
Ireland, is used to contending in the majors,
finishing third at last year's British Open and
PGA Championship. He also helped Europe
reclaim the Ryder Cup. Now, he's the
youngest first-round leader in Masters
history after a bogey-free round.

"I trusted everything," McIlroy said. "I trusted
where I wanted to hit the ball. That's the key
around here. With some of these pins, you
can get tentative and try to guide it in there.
You just have to pick your targets and trust
your swing. I was very happy with the way I
did that."

McIlroy nearly duplicated his dynamic start
at last year's British Open, where he started
with a 63. The next day at St. Andrews, in a
howling wind that actually forced a brief
delay, he slumped to an 80.

He shouldn't face those conditions in
Georgia, where the forecast calls for warm,
sunny weather through the weekend.
Whatever happens, he feels better prepared
to deal with any adversity.