Sentry Tournament of Champions: Rory McIlroy three shots back in Hawaii
McIlroy had 1.882 putts per green in regulation in the first round with his new putter, the combined 26th best in the tournament of the first round of the tournament tournament tournament, 7 K Tway (USA); -6 G Woodland (US), J Thomas (US), D Johnson (US); -5 M Leishman (Aus); -4 A Putnam (USA), A Landry (USA), P Kizzire (USA), R McIlroy (NI), B DeChambeau (USA) Other selected: -3 P Reed (USA), J Rahm (Spa); -2 I Poulter (Eng); Level P Casey (F), F Molinari (Ita)
World number eight Rory McIlroy was three shots of the lead after the opening round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.
The 29-year-old the old Northern Irishman, used a new mallet-like putter, birdied three of the last four holes to return a four-under-69.
Defending champion Dustin Johnson is second after seven birdies in a 67.
Kevin Tway, who won his first PGA Tour title in October, leads with one after a bogey-free 66
The Englishman Ian Poulter, world number 40, had a double bogey in a 71 and compatriot Paul Casey mixed three birdies with three bogeys in a 73.
Open champion Francesco Molinari also finished level par at the Plantation course in Kapalua in Maui after compiling three birdies and three bogeys.
