Rory McIlroy sits three shots behind the lead after the first round of the Wells Fargo Championship at the Quail Hollow Club in North Carolina.
The Irishman posted a 68 to leave him three shots under par, and three behind Day One leader John Peterson, who sits two shots clear of five chasers on four-under-par.
After a disappointing Masters result for McIlroy, the 29-year-old will be eager to put his poor final round at Augusta behind him.
In the final pairing with eventual champion Patrick Reed, McIlroy was unable to sustain a charge at the American, spluttering to a two-over-par round and a tied-fifth finish.
It had been a difficult season for the Holywood-native, who turned his year around in March with victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
With The Open looming in July, strong results on the PGA Tour will be critical for McIlroy’s preparations ahead of the classic at Carnoustie.
