Rory McIlroy starts The Open 2022 with sweet 66 as Cameron Young takes early lead

Coming in as favourite even as he hunts a first major in eight years, Rory McIlroy promptly posted his best opening score at the Open since 2010.

The Northern Irishman went out mid-morning on Thursday at St Andrews in relatively benign conditions, and within minutes had laid down a hefty signal of intent. On the first, sank a 55-foot putt for birdie.

McIlroy, Open champion in 2014, picked up three more shots across three holes from the fifth to climb into contention at 4-under and, when his game unravelled ever-so slightly, rebounded from his solitary dropped shot of the day on 13 with a brilliant birdie at the next.

A couple of stellar par saves at 16 and 17 protected McIlroy's tally, with the world No 2 birding the final hole to finish with a 66. Subsequently, he sat second on the leaderboard, two back from American debutant Cameron Young.

“I played well, very solid,” McIlroy said. “Everyone knows on this golf course you have to make your score going out and I did that.

“Started off tremendously with a bonus on the first, birdied the par five, birdied a couple of the short par fours with wedges in my hand, and then on the back nine even though with the wind it got tricky, you pick off a couple on the 14th and 18th.

“I birdied the holes I should have and only made one mistake … the way this course is playing, with how firm and bouncy and tricky it is, it’s all about limiting your mistakes. And only one bogey out there today was good.”

What an opening round from the 2014 Champion Golfer of the Year