John Peterson leads Wells Fargo Championship; Rory McIlroy impresses

John Peterson eagled two of his final three holes to upstage a world-class field and grab a two-stroke lead after the opening round of the Wells Fargo Championship.

The American, playing under a medical extension on the PGA Tour, produced a stunning finish to his opening-round 65 at Quail Hollow to pull him clear of the five-way tie for second and top the leaderboard.

Rory McIlroy lies three strokes off the pace after a three-under 68 in North Carolina, while Tiger Woods is six shots back after stuttering to a level-par 71.

Beginning on the back nine, Peterson drained a 45-footer at the 11th - his second hole - and posted a two-putt birdie at the 14th after driving the par-four green.

Peterson birdied the next from close range on his way to reaching the turn in 33 but failed to get up-and-down from the rough to salvage a par at the fifth.

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The American responded by holing his bunker shot from the par-four seventh, after attempting to drive the 16th green off the tee, before holing out from the next fairway to post an eagle-two and set the clubhouse target.

Tyrrell Hatton birdied his final two holes to match Peter Malnati's opening-round 67 and share second with Johnson Wagner, Keith Mitchell and Kyle Stanley, while McIlroy is one of ten players in the group on three under.

Woods mixed three birdies with as many bogeys to join Masters champion Patrick Reed six off the pace, with Justin Thomas further stroke adrift following an opening-round 73.

Watch the Wells Fargo Championship throughout the week live on Sky Sports Golf. Live coverage continues on Friday from midday.