Mac on a roll in Swiss Alps

McIlroy: Nine birdies

Leaderboard:
-8 R McIlroy
-5 J Zapata
-5 G Houston
-5 K Sullivan

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Rory McIlroy fired a blistering round of 63 to take the first round lead in the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre.

It wasn't just the thin air of the Swiss Alps that left fans light-headed after they watched the young Irishman go round in eight under par, dropping just a solitary shot at the 12th - his third.

It has been a quiet season for McIlroy since he burst onto the scene just over a year ago, recording only two top-10 finishes, but with his card for next year already in the bag he took the course apart to record his lowest round as a pro.

Beginning as he meant to go on with a birdie at the 10th, the 19-year-old picked up five shots in six holes from the 14th to join the early leaders Garry Houston and Kyron Sullivan at the top.

But he wasn't finished there, and three consecutive birdies from the fifth followed by two safe pars saw him safely into the clubhouse lead.

"It's been a long time coming for me," he told Sky Sports.. "I feel like I've been hitting it well over the past month or so but it just hasn't been happening for me.

Fun course

"But I hit some good shots out there today and managed to hole a few putts.

"The pro-am was my first ever round here and I just love how far the ball goes. It's a fun course.

"As a kid I always played by feel - there were no yardage books at Holywood - and here whatever it looks like you just go for it.

"There are a lot of elevation changes as well and it's whatever fits your eye."

Welsh duo Sullivan and Houston maintained a share of second place after rounds of 66, being joined late in the day by Argentine Julio Zapata, who hit back from being one over through six holes.

Brett Rumford has been plying his trade on the PGA Tour this year but returned to Crans-sur-Sierre to defend the title he won 12 months ago, and started well with a round of 67 to lie in a group of eight players on four under.

And sole Ryder Cupper Miguel Angel Jimenez got it to six under through 15 blemish-free holes, but the Spaniard three-putted the final three greens and had to be content with a 68.