Rory McIlroy ties US Open lead after superb start in Pinehurst

Rory McIlroy made the ideal start to his bid for a long overdue fifth major title with a flawless opening 65 in the 124th US Open at Pinehurst.

The 2011 champion outshone playing partners Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele to share the lead with Patrick Cantlay on five under par.

The world number three holed from seven feet for a birdie on the fourth, chipped in from short of the green for another on the next and birdied the 10th, 16th and 18th to equal his lowest opening score in the US Open.

Masters champion Scheffler and US PGA winner Schauffele could only shoot 71 and 70, respectively.

McIlroy, who started the 2011 US Open, 2012 US PGA and 2014 Open with a bogey-free round and went on to win all three, said: "I went through a run there for a while where my starts at major championships weren't very good.

BIRDIE ON THE LAST!