Rory McIlroy was at his brilliant best on day one at St Andrews for the 150th Open with a sparkling round of 66.
A birdie at the last sent McIlroy off to sign his card with a real pep in his step and the odds on the pre-tournament favourite have dropped further with the Holywood man around 7/2 now.
It's McIlroy's best opening round at the Open since his Major success at Royal Liverpool in 2014.
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"I played well, very solid. Everyone knows on this golf course you have to make your score going out and I did that," McIlroy said after his round.
"I started off tremendously with a bonus at the first. I birdied the par five, birdied a couple of the par fours with wedges in my hand.
"And then on the back nine, even though it's downwind, it got so tricky.
"I sort of birdied the holes I should have birdied and I only made one mistake. The way this golf course is playing, how firm and bouncy and tricky it is, it's all about limiting your mistakes."
McIlroy ended his round two shots behind American Cameron Young who hit an incredible round of eight under and it could have been even better.
Young’s 64 was the second-lowest first-round score in the Open at St Andrews after McIlroy’s 63 in 2010.
McIlroy admitted after the round that his confidence was soaring with all departments of his game in great shape.
"Yeah, they are. I'm driving the ball well, I'm giving myself chances because my iron play is that little bit better than it has been.
"I'm putting well. I'm seeing shots well around the greens. I'm thinking well and I think that's the most important part this week around this place. If you do that you can keep yourself in this tournament."
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