Seamus Power lights up Hilton Head with fine first round, Rory McIroy inside top ten

Seamus Power sits just two shots off the lead following the opening round of the prestigious RBC Heritage on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina.

The Waterford native made a dream start to the PGA Tour signature event with four birdies inside his opening five holes, and he added two more on the 10th and 13th holes.

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Power handed one back on 17 but finished with a bounce-back birdie on 18 to get into the clubhouse in a tie for second place on six-under-par alongside Collin Morikawa.

Rory McIlroy joined Power inside the top ten following a solid four-under 67, in a round that included three birdies, one bogey and an eagle on the par-five fifth hole.

Shane Lowry shot a one-under 70, recovering from a double bogey on the fourth hole, while posting four birdies and a bogey to share 38th place ahead of Friday's second round.

JT Poston shot an eight-under-par 63 to build a two-shot lead, while Masters champion and world number one, Scottie Scheffler, carded a two-under 69 at Harbour Town Golf Links.

"I felt like I played a lot better than my score," said Scheffler. "I tried to give myself a little bit of grace today, just because I was a bit tired. I shanked that bunker shot today on three and I was kind of like, 'OK, that's a bit unusual.' I think maybe mentally I might not quite be there.

"But I didn't show up to the tournament to hear any sort of ceremonial, to hear a bunch of congratulations and what not. I came to play and to compete, and so I was fairly frustrated by the time we got to about 13 or 14 and I look up and JT is already eight under or whatever it is and I'm sitting there almost over par.

"But I put up a good fight, had a good finish. It was nice to put something up in red numbers today."

Poston was on 59