Spaniard races to surprise lead

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits a shot near the bushes on the sixth hole on the first day of the Hong Kong Open yesterday.

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DEFENDING champion Rory McIlroy finished nine shots behind Spanish leader Javier Colomo after the first round of the Hong Kong Open yesterday.

McIlroy admitted to feeling lethargic as he carded a 3-over-par 73.

Colomo, ranked 506th, recorded a career-best 6-under 64 in overcast and windy conditions on the suburban Fanling course. That earned him a one-stroke lead over fellow Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez and Australia's Andrew Dodt, who scored 65s.

The 48-year-old Jimenez would break his own record as oldest Hong Kong champion from 2008, and oldest ever winner on the European Tour if he were to capture the title a third time this weekend. "I am like a good bottle of rioja because I just get better and better with age," Jimenez said with a smile.

Countryman Jose Maria Olazabal also put himself in the frame to end a seven-year winless drought on the tour in playing alongside Jimenez and being among five players signing for 67s. Olazabal also won in Hong Kong in 2002.

McIlroy bogeyed his first hole and made his only birdie at the par-5, third hole. He dropped a shot at the sixth after being forced to play his second shot left-handed from beside a bush, and bogeyed 14 and 15.

"I just lacked a bit of energy out there, I felt a bit lethargic and mentally more than physically, if I am being honest," he said. "I bogeyed the first but then just got more frustrated as the round went on. I just felt like I was hitting some decent shots and just not really converting any chances for birdies and I just let it go a little bit."

McIlroy believes he's just going through a comedown after securing the tour money title last weekend in Singapore.

"I suppose after last week, and winning the Race to Dubai title, it was always going to be a bit of a let down," he said. "I feel as though I am playing well enough but I just need to get my head and the golf to match up and I'll be OK."

Colomo found everything in synch in his Hong Kong Open debut.

He began his round from the 11th hole and after 10 straight pars he stormed to the top of the board with six birdies over his closing eight holes.

Colomo lost his card last year on Europe's secondary Challenge Tour and this season has been competing on the Asian Tour.

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