RORY MCILROY’S GOLF clubs may have gone missing in transit earlier in the week, but when they finally arrived in Kuala Lumpur, the young Ulsterman showed that he hasn’t forgotten how to use them.

Following the disappointment of last weekend’s final round capitulation at Augusta National, it was important that the 21-year-old get off to a solid start at this week’s Maybank Malaysian Open.

Playing with world number one Martin Kaymer and two-time champion Thongchai Jaidee, McIlroy scored four birdies en route to an opening round total of three-under par.

That solid start was good enough to leave him in tie for ninth position, five shots off the early pace set by Sweden’s Alexander Noren who finished the day with a round of 64.

The man who benefited at McIlroy’s expense last weekend, Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, had a slightly more sluggish opening to his tournament, coming home with a round of one-over par.

Excited

Speaking yesterday ahead of this weekend’s competition, McIlroy reassured reporters that there was never any question of him giving the trip to Malaysia a miss.

“It was never in doubt,” said McIlroy. “I’m excited to get out playing again.”

One area of his game that he will be looking to improve on is his mental composure as he admitted that the lure of the Green Jacket had been playing on his mind during the final round at Augusta.

“It is very hard to keep yourself in the present and not think about winning or putting on that Green Jacket or walking up the last with a two or three-shot lead,” he said.

Sleeping on a lead for a couple of nights in a Major is hard work. The one thing I have learned is that probably I’ll need a few more experiences of playing with a lead.