Rory stays on form (From The Northern Echo)

Rory stays on form

10:15am Friday 27th November 2009

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RORY McIlroy proved last week’s disappointment in Dubai was in the past by again combining superbly with Graeme McDowell to put Ireland firmly in the driving seat after the first round of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup.

The close friends combined with devastating effect to shoot a superb 14-under-par total in the opening fourballs to open up a three-shot lead over Argentina.

And after winning three out of four matches in September as Great Britain and Ireland claimed the Vivendi Trophy, Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie certainly has a firm contender for a pairing at Celtic Manor next year.

Each contributed seven shots to the impressive total, which was just one shot shy of the World Cup fourballs record, ahead of today testing alternate shot foursomes.

The eagle three from world number 10 McIlroy at the heavily bunkered par-five 15th was the highlight as the 20-year-old reaped the rewards for his big-hitting style.

‘‘It’s nice to go out and prove I wasn’t affected by last week. I got over it by the time I woke up on Monday morning to be honest,’’ said World Cup debutant McIlroy, who was denied the inaugural Race to Dubai crown on Sunday by Lee Westwood.

‘‘I’m looking back at it now, and I’ve had a great season, it’s been brilliant. It’s been a great, almost like a breakthrough year with 12 top fives, the win and I played well in the majors.

‘‘This is the start of a new stage. This was a week I obviously wanted to do well because I’m playing with Graeme and it would be great to win together, it would be awesome.’’ Argentina’s Rafa Echenique and Tano Goya lead the chasing pack at 11 under par with Hiroyuki Fujita and Ryuji Imada a further shot adrift for Japan.

Italy, Canada, YE Yang’s Korea and defending champions Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson of Sweden sit six off the pace with China and South Africa and seven under.

‘‘Obviously it was a good start, but that’s all it is and we are very aware of that,’’ said McDowell, who finished 16th last year with Paul McGinley.

‘‘Better-ball is quite an important part of the format.

You’ve got to play well in better- ball, but obviously foursomes is a tougher format.’’ Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher carded a disappointing sixunder 66 for England and sit well down the leaderboard alongside Martin Kaymer’s Germany in a group eight adrift.

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