Rory McIlroy took some positives from what was a rather uneventful season-opening round at the WGC-HSBC Champions.
McIlroy carded just two birdies against one bogey at Sheshan International, shooting a 1-under 71 that left him seven shots behind Rikard Karlberg. It marked McIlroy's first competitive round since he added TaylorMade fairway woods into his bag, including a new driver, and the early results have the Ulsterman smiling.
"I felt like I drove the ball really well," McIlroy told reporters. "Look, I've been driving the ball well anyway, but yeah, it was nice to see the ball flying where it was going.