McIlroy sets red-hot early pace at PGA Championship

TULSA, Oklahoma: Rory McIlroy set a red-hot early pace at the PGA Championship on Thursday (May 19), powering to the top of the first-round midway leaderboard with four birdies.

Starting on the back nine and partnered with Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth in a golf super group, McIlroy grabbed centre stage with four straight birdies from the 12th to lead Davis Riley by a stroke.

It was no doubt the kind of start the Northern Irishman had been hoping for as he tries to end an eight-year major drought at steamy Southern Hills.

A twice PGA Championship winner, McIlroy arrived in Tulsa in fine form having recorded top-five finishes at his last two events, including runner-up at the Masters, and he carried that momentum into an error-free first nine.

The featured group, who own a combined 22 major titles, was like a giant magnet pulling in the early spectators who lined almost every hole from tee to green.

Woods, back in action for the first time since his sensational return to competition at April's Masters 14 months after a car crash nearly claimed his right leg, wasted no time sending a jolt through the crowd with a birdie on his opening hole.

The 15-times major winner turned up the excitement after collecting a second birdie at the 14th but stumbled into the turn as he gave it all back with bogeys at 15 and 18.

Spieth, bidding to complete the career Grand Slam of golf's four majors, was struggling to keep up with his playing partners.

The 28-year-old American had a positive start with a birdie at 12 but bogeys at 15, 16 and 18 dropped him to two-over and six behind front-running McIlroy.

While McIlroy, Woods and Spieth hogged most of the early attention the afternoon spotlight will shift to another high-profile group featuring world