Rory McIlroy picked up his first ace on the PGA Tour, but America\u2019s Denny McCarthy took the opening round lead with a blistering 60 at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut.<\/p>\n
The Northern Irishman\u2019s hole-in-one on the 214-yard eighth was the clear highlight on a mixed session for the US Open runner-up, who finished two-under-par on a day of low scores.<\/p>\n
It was McIlroy\u2019s first ace in competition since he made one in Abu Dhabi on the European tour in 2015.<\/p>\n
“5-iron to 115 yards slightly back into the wind off the right. And, yeah, as hole in ones go, I’ve had them in the past where it has been like an okay shot and you get a little lucky. That was the best shot of the day that I hit.<\/p>\n
“Obviously a bonus for it to go in the hole, but it was really cool. I played pretty averagely up until that point. Felt like that hole in one got me going a little bit. Birdied the next couple holes after that and sort of got me into the tournament a bit.”<\/p>\n