TULSA, Okla. -- Rory McIlroy looked free and easy and saw only opportunity at Southern Hills during the first round of the PGA Championship on Thursday.
McIlroy blasted his driver over trees and into fairways, setting up some of his seven birdies that carried him to a 5-under 65 and an early 1-shot lead after the morning wave.
Masters champion Scottie Scheffler was among those playing Thursday afternoon as the heat index crept toward 90 degrees.
It was just what McIlroy needed as he tries to end nearly eight years without a major, many of those chances doomed by bad starts.