PALM BEACH GARDENS, Florida — Rory McIlroy produced a barnstorming back nine, charging home with five birdies, to take the first-round lead at the $6 million Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida Thursday. A year after quitting the tournament mid-round with his game in a shambles, McIlroy cut a contrasting figure on his way to a flawless seven-under-par 63 in relatively benign afternoon conditions at PGA National. “I made a great par save on nine which kept that bogey-free round alive,” the 24-year-old Northern Irishman told Golf Channel after seizing a one-shot lead over American Russell Henley. Buoyed by that 10-foot par putt at the ninth, McIlroy birdied the next three holes and added further birdies on his last two holes, much to the delight of his parents Gerry and Rosie, who were in the gallery. “It's a good ball-striker's course,” said McIlroy. McIlroy's sizzling start against the strongest field in the world so far this year overshadowed Australian Adam Scott. Not that Scott, gearing up to defend his Masters title in April, started badly as he opened with a 68 to sit five strokes off the pace. However, the Australian's move up the leaderboard stalled when he drowned his tee shot at the par-three 15th, the first of three dangerous holes in a stretch known as the “Bear Trap,” in honor of course designer Jack Nicklaus. Five-time major champion Phil Mickelson did not do a lot wrong while carding a 70 in the afternoon while world No. 1 Tiger Woods had an inconsistent 71 in the morning and ended the day tied for 81st in a field of 144. Second-placed Henley started with four consecutive birdies and was five under through six holes but it was a par on his 12th hole, the par-five third, that most impressed. He pulled his second shot, an “horrendous” six-iron that ended partly submerged in a water hazard, with a bunker between his ball and the hole. Henley then removed his right shoe and sock and conjured up an outstanding third shot to inside 10 feet, only to miss the birdie putt. Fifty-six players broke par on a day when players were allowed preferred lies due to heavy pre-tournament rain that left the fairways damp. Webb maintains lead Karrie Webb recovered from a back-nine lapse to card a 3-under 69 and maintain her lead at the HSBC Women's Champions after Friday's second round. The Australian veteran had two bogeys on No. 13 and 15, but finished with a birdie on the 17th hole to reach 9-under 135 and open a two-stroke lead over American Angela Stanford. Stanford, the 2012 champion, also shot a 69, while Taiwan's Teresa Lu was in third place at 6-under after shooting a 70. Defending champion Stacy Lewis, meanwhile, struggled for the second straight day. She shot an even-par 72 to be tied for 39th. Fisher leads Tshwane Michael Hoey sunk seven birdies in a row on his back nine, but finished his second round three shots behind leader Ross Fisher at the European Tour's Tshwane Open Friday. Having turned at the Copperleaf Golf & Country Estate on level par for his round, Northern Ireland's Hoey landed birdies from the 10th to the 16th holes for a seven-under-par 65 that took him to 10-under for the tournament. The 34-year-old was one of eight players to shoot 65, the low round of the day, including England's Fisher, who eagled the par-five 15th. He is one shot ahead of the Dane Morten Orum Madsen, winner of the 2013 South African Open Championship in November. Overnight leader Simon Dyson could only manage a 68 and along with the Spaniard Carlos Del Moral was joint third on 11-under. South Africans Darren Fichardt, Jake Roos and Trevor Fisher Junior were all on 10 under par with Hoey. — Agencies
