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McIlroy shoots 65, leads by two in China

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Rory McIlroy leads the way at the WGC-HSBC Champions after a first-round 65, a 7-under total that gives him a 2-shot cushion over Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Jamie Donaldson at Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai.

It’s a hopeful start for the former No. 1-ranked golfer in the world, who struggled mightily with his swing on 2013. But the 24-year-old struck the ball much better in an exhibition match against Tiger Woods on Monday, and gave himself a “seven-out-of-ten rating” for his ball striking in Round 1.

” It was good,” McIlroy said after the round. “It felt good to be out there and be in control of my golf ball. Gave myself a lot of looks for birdies.”

According to McIlroy, his game started coming around two weeks ago at the Korea Open, where he finished 1-shot back of South Korea’s Sung-hoon Kang. He said he drove the ball great but struggled with his short game. Last week at the BMW Masters in Shanghai, McIlroy said he saw even more progress, but didn’t hole enough putts to win.

McIlroy is in the process of adjusting to new equipment, but the changes are nothing compared to the 14-club-and-ball switch he made to start the 2013 season. In the bag in Shanghai is a Nike Covert 2.0 driver that he says he feels very comfortable with, a fresh lob wedge and Nike’s 2014 RZN prototype ball that has a softer cover than the 2013 Nike 20XI-X he played in 2013.

Click here to see all the clubs in Mcilroy’s bag.

This year’s WGC-HSBC Championship features an extremely strong field, with just about all of the world’s best players in attendance except No. 1-ranked Tiger Woods and No. 2-ranked Adam Scott. Jordan Spieth, the PGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year in 2013, is three shots back of McIlroy at 4-under. The 20-year-old, who is playing in his first WGC event, started the first round 2-over through eight holes, but recovered with six birdies and no bogeys over his final 11 holes.

Also close to the lead are Bubba Watson and Justin rose, at 4-under, along with 22-year-old Tommy Fleetwood, an Englishman with a celebrated amateur career who won the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles in August.

Defending champion Ian Poulter and Phil Mickelson shot matching rounds of 1-under, while last week’s CIMB Classic winner Ryan Moore opened with around of 2-under.

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open

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GolfWRX is on site in the Lone Star State this week for the Texas Children’s Houston Open.

General galleries from the putting green and range, WITBs — including Thorbjorn Olesen and Zac Blair — and several pull-out albums await.

As always, we’ll continue to update as more photos flow in. Check out links to all our photos from Houston below.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

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Photos from the 2024 Players Championship

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On the heels of Scottie Scheffler’s dominant victory at Bay Hill, the PGA Tour heads a little farther north in Florida to TPC Sawgrass this week for The Players Championship. And of course, GolfWRX is on site to get a look at what the players are playing.

We’ve already spotted a new Titleist mini driver this week, and there’s plenty more.

Check out our photos below!

Pullout Albums

 

 

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Photos from the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational

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GolfWRX is on the ground in Orlando ahead of the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club & Lodge.

We’re assembling our usual collection of WITB photos, general galleries, and of course, gear inspired by the King himself.

We’ll continue to add to the photos below as more flow in from Florida.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

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