McIlroy in contention in Indiana

Rory McIlroy continued his return to form with a good start to a weather-interrupted first round of the BMW Championship at Crooked Stick, Indiana.

Just a week on from his superb comeback which saw him pip Paul Casey to the Deutche Bank Championship, the Northern Irishman was three-under for his first ten holes before storms brought an early end to play on day one before returning on Friday morning to add another birdie to finish four-under.

American Roberto Castro set the pace with a fine seven-under 65, one shot ahead of compatriot Brian Harman and two clear of US Open winner Dustin Johnson.

Castro’s round could have been even better but for a bogey on the last after taking three putts from the fringe on the 18^th green. He had earlier reeled off five birdies in seven holes after going out in 33.

Johnson too might have hoped for better as, after moving to six-under with his sixth birdie of the day on 15, he found the water off the tee at the last and ended up dropping a shot.

McIlroy looks an entirely new player with renewed confidence around the greens following his victory last weekend.

He converted from 12 feet for a birdie on the first to set him on his way before fine back-to-back birdies on five and six moved him to three-under. He subsequently dropped a shot on the seventh but recovered with a birdie on nine to put himself back in contention.

Meanwhile, Casey is well-placed on after he also returned on Friday morning to complete first round 67, but world number one Jason Day could only manage a 73.

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