Rory McIlroy made a strong start in the opening round, with a return of three-under-par that leaves him just two shots off the lead held by Justin Thomas, with McIlroy’s former Ryder Cup partner – and fellow new father – Thomas Pieters alongside Matthew Wolff and Patrick Reed on four under par.
Former Masters champion Reed and fellow American Will Zalatoris both made holes-in-one on the seventh and Zalatoris amazingly almost made another ace on the 13th when his tee shot hit the middle of the pin but stayed out.
Lee Westwood and Louis Oosthuizen were alongside McIlroy on three under, but world number one and FedEx Cup winner Dustin Johnson struggled to a 73.
