INQUIRER Sports

SHENZHEN, CHINA? Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell tore up the course with a 14-under-par 58 to give Ireland a three-stroke lead after the first-round fourballs at the 55th World Cup of Golf on Thursday.

Perfect conditions at Mission Hills and the easier better-ball format led to a number of birdies and eagles throughout the field but the sensational round by the two Ulstermen was a class above their rivals.

Although a shot short of the World Cup fourballs record, it was enough for a comfortable cushion over second-placed Argentine duo Rafa Echenique and Tano Goya, who carded a 61.

The Philippine team of Angelo Que and Mars Pucay finished with a 68 in a tie with Australia and Brazil with four teams, including Spain, bringing up the rear with 69s.

Que contributed four birdies against a bogey while Pucay finally counted with a birdie on No. 13.

World No. 10 McIlroy drained a 20-foot eagle putt at the par-five 15th and was centimetres away from chipping in for another at the next hole before grabbing Ireland?s 10th and 11th birdies of the day to take the outright lead.

Tagline: Reuters

The scores:

58?Ireland; 61?Argentina; 62?Japan; 64?Canada, Korea, Sweden; 65?South Africa, China; 66?Denmark, Singapore, Wales, England, Germany; 67?New Zealand, France, Thailand, Venezuela, Chinese Taipei, United States, India; 68?Philippines, Brazil, Australia;

69?Pakistan, Scotland, Chile, Spain