McIlroy, Quiros share first-round lead

AUGUSTA -- The night before his third try at besting America’s most revered golf course, Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy relaxed by playing the most American sport.

The 21-year-old found himself on the street in front of his rented house for the week tossing a football with some pals. A neighbor broke up the fun when she objected to the loud noises coming from McIlroy’s crew.

McIlroy quickly retreated to his house, but he admitted he enjoys learning how to throw a spiral. He did get a little puzzled, however, when he was asked if he ran patterns while catching the ball Wednesday night.

“I don’t even know what that means,” said McIlroy, eliciting laughs from a room full of reporters.

McIlroy played with another group of young friends Thursday in a sport with which he’s a little more comfortable.

Paired with fellow young stars Rickie Fowler and Jason Day, McIlroy fired a 7-under-par 65 to take a share of the first-round lead at the Masters. Big-hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros equaled McIlroy’s 65.

McIlroy’s clubhouse lead held up for about five hours before Quiros finished with three birdies to tie for the lead while playing in the final group of the day.

At 21, McIlroy topped Seve Ballesteros as the youngest first-round leader in Masters history. Ballesteros led after a round in 1980 at 23.

“I played some really good golf, and it was nice to see a few putts drop in,” McIlroy said. “It’s a great start to this tournament, and hopefully, I can build on it.”

Playing in front of a large gallery, McIlroy got off to a white-hot start with three straight birdies beginning on No. 2. He made two 3-foot birdies, before making a 20-footer uphill on the difficult par-3 4th hole.

After getting to 5 under with an 8-foot birdie on 11, McIlroy continued to go low with consecutive birdies on 14 and 15.

“I don’t think there’s any position better than first,” McIlroy said. “I’d rather shoot 7 under (Thursday) than 3 under and be in the pack. If I can string four good rounds together and see where that puts me at the end of the week, that’s all I’m trying to do. If you’re in the lead, you’re in the pole position.”

Despite the 65, McIlroy missed a few other short birdie putts -- including one on 18 -- that would have evened or surpassed the course record of 63 held by Greg Norman and Nick Price.

“I would take a 65 all day long,” McIlroy said. “Could have been lower, but I also could have got a bad break here or there. It swings in roundabouts, and I’ll take 65 all day.”

Less than a year ago, he scorched the field in the opening round of the British Open at St. Andrews by tying the major-championship round record of 63.

That week didn’t end well for McIlroy, who shot a second-round 80 in brutal wind conditions before rebounding to finish tied for third in the tournament.

“Looking back on (the British Open), it was a very valuable lesson in my development as a golfer,” McIlroy said. “I’ll be thinking about it, and I’ll be thinking about how I can do things better (Friday) than I did that day in St. Andrews.”

Quiros has a little less experience in marquee tournaments than McIlroy, who has finished third three times in majors.

The 28-year-old Spaniard has won five times on the European Tour, but he has struggled in majors.

Quiros played better as of late, finishing tied for 11th in last year’s British Open.

He won the Dubai Desert Classic on the European Tour in February and finished second at the Qatar Masters a month earlier. He is currently ranked 23rd in the world.

“My target (Friday) is make the cut,” Quiros said. “It would be stupid to think about shooting 65 again, because it’s not my way. As I said before, 75 was my best round here. It could be just one good round of golf. So to avoid that, I want to think in the next shot that I’m going to have, which is the tee shot on the first hole.”

Quiros also started strong, with three birdies in his first eight holes. But he stole some of the spotlight from McIlroy with the way he finished.

A birdie on 15 pushed him into a tie for second. Two holes later, Quiros followed a very similar birdie putt line of playing partner Gary Woodland to get to 6 under for a 20-foot birdie. He finished up the round by sticking his approach shot on 18 to within three feet and quickly finished off the birdie to equal McIlroy.

“I was talking with my caddie about it, walking the 18th hole,” Quiros said. “It looks like I was playing Sunday afternoon in the leading group. I mean, it was a very nice feeling. Because normally, I’m watching this situation through the TV sitting on my sofa.”

This story was originally published April 8, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "McIlroy, Quiros share first-round lead."