Flying start for McIlroy in Florida

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy stepped up his efforts to become World Number One after his opening round of four under par 66 left him second at the Honda Classic on the US PGA Tour.

The US Open Champion, runner up to Hunter Mahan in last week’s WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, continued his fine start to the season at the PGA National Champion Course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Knowing he needs a victory to overtake current number one Luke Donald, who has opted to rest this week, McIlroy, starting on the tenth, birdied the 14th, 17th and 18th holes prior to the turn, followed by the second and seventh on the way in.

Hopes of a bogey free round were thwarted on the eighth, McIlroy’s 17th, as he three-putted, but the 22 year old still ended the day tied for second, two shots adrift of US Ryder Cup Captain Davis Love III.

“I felt like the course was very scoreable this morning,” said McIlroy. “I only made one mistake on the eighth green (his 17th) with a three-putt. Apart from that I was very happy with how the day went.

“I feel like I've got a few targets in my head and I'm sort of striving to get to those. Obviously with all of the talk of number one it would be great to get to that position at some point.

“I feel like I'm playing good enough to challenge for it at least, but I'm working towards trying to peak my game from April through to August for the four Major Championships and for the big tournaments.”

McIlroy finds himself in an eight way tie for second spot, with Englishman Justin Rose and Korean Noh Seung-yul among those matching the World Number Two’s 66.

Rose’s round looked in trouble after a double bogey on the second hole but he delivered the perfect riposte; he eagled the third before adding birdies on five, six, seven and 16 to also end four under.

“I guess the key was there were not any emotions to the double [bogey]. It was one poor swing,” he said.

“I've been losing a couple of tee shots to the right and that's what happened there, but I didn't let it affect me.

“This golf course is never easy, but if there was ever a day to go low this is it. It's there for the taking, but saying that the rough is thick.”

Louis Oosthuizen, the 2010 Open Champion, was a further shot back following an opening round 67.

Ian Poulter, meanwhile, was forced to pull out of the tournament as he is suffering from pneumonia.

The Englishman had been set to play alongside 14 time Major winner Tiger Woods and World Number Three Lee Westwood - who shot 71 and 70 respectively - but pulled out prior to the tournament.

Before the start of play, Poulter said on Twitter: "Never been so disappointed in pulling out of a tournament. Never felt so ruff."

Ireland’s Padraig Harrington and Sweden’s Henrik Stenson matched Westwood's 70 to be just outside the top 30, while Open Champion Darren Clarke and former US Open winner Graeme McDowell his 73s, the same as Europe's Ryder Cup Captain Jose Maria Olazabal.

Sweden’s Henrik Stenson continued to show signs of a return to form with a level par 70, a score matched by Westwood, Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington and YE Yang. Masters Champion Charl Schwartzel carded a one over par 71, as did Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn.