That's how to start a major, Rory! Majestic McIlroy shoots 65 to LEAD US PGA Championship and leave playing partner Tiger Woods in the shade

• Rory McIlroy's Major campaigns have been hindered by awful starts recently
• But the Northern Irishman surged into an early lead at the US PGA on Thursday 
• The 33-year-old carded an opening round of 65 to take an early one-shot lead
• Tiger Woods, McIlroy's playing partner, struggled finishing four-over for the day

Southern Hills brought southern comfort for Rory McIlroy on Thursday as he ended his first round problems in majors in spectacular style at the 104th USPGA Championship.

Drawing on the momentum that followed his wonderful final round 64 at the Masters, the Northern Irishman overshadowed his illustrious playing partners Tiger Woods - clearly struggling with his right leg - and Jordan Spieth with a sparkling 65 for a one shot lead over Americans Will Zalatoris and Tom Hoge.

It was McIlroy's lowest opening round in a major since he began with a 65 on his way to a runaway eight shot victory in the 2011 US Open, and might even have been still better given he dropped two shots in his last four holes. 

A fine birdie at his 18th hole, the 9th on the course, meant a score reflecting his play, which was majestic for much of the round.

Was this really the same player who, since his last major victory in this event in 2014, has delivered such opening round stinkers as a 78 at the 2019 Open at Royal Portrush and a 76 at the Masters last year? 

Since 2015, McIlroy was a cumulative 35 over par coming into this event for first days in majors, with less than one in five such rounds completed in the 60s.

What a way to demolish such a woeful statistic. He said after Augusta that he thought his final round would inspire him going forward and here was a vivid illustration.

McIlroy looked a man at ease, swinging beautifully and mentally freed up, with his only mistakes coming at two brutal par threes, the 6th and the 8th, where he was hardly alone in notching bogeys.

Spieth looked average by comparison, his career Grand Slam hopes taking a hit with a mediocre 72. 

Poor Woods looked old, his gait a stark contrast to the bouncing stride of McIlroy, who outdrove him by 100 yards on occasion. 

No shame in that, given all that Tiger has been through, but if he's serious about only playing in majors if he thinks he can win, one look at McIlroy must have left him wondering if the game is finally up.

Then there was his physical state. Over the closing holes, the 46 year old was clearly wincing after his tee shots, a sight that was at depressing odds with his belief before the tournament that the right leg that has suffered so much punishment will only get stronger. Could he call it quits at the 150th Open at St Andrews?

Conditions were tougher for the afternoon wave as the wind picked up and the greens dried out. None of the world's top three who were playing together could get near the mark set by McIlroy. 

The Masters champion and world No 1 Scottie Scheffler shot 71, No 2 and US Open Champion Jon Rahm a 73 while No 3 and Open Champion Collin Morikawa carded a 72.

In the circumstances, the 67 by 2017 PGA champion Justin Thomas added up to a statement, given his own recent problems in the first round of majors.

It's long been one of the marvels of the modern game how far McIlroy hits the ball with his modest frame and a measure of how well he is striking it this season that he's actually added still more length off the tee. 

The par five 5th was a classic case in point. Without any wind assistance, his drive travelled 378 yards. Spieth and Woods could only look on with envy.

What was most encouraging was the improvement in the two areas of the game that have given McIlroy fits in recent years - distance control with his short irons and his putting. Both were wonderfully in tune, as he not only holed his share of birdie putts but also three vital 10 footers for pars.

All this took place before a vast galley, as a considerable majority among the sellout crowd all chose one group as a way of getting to know this marvellous course following its restoration.

Starting from the 10th, the thrills came early regarding Woods, as he played a deftly controlled approach to 3ft and rolled in the birdie putt. At the par three 14th he moved to two under with a 20ft putt and the many thousands who had got up early for the 8-10am start were thankful that they did.

Even at that stage, though, Woods was moving gingerly in his first appearance since the Masters. 

The 'stinger' tee shots with a long iron that he could hit down the middle in his sleep during his prime all headed right, as he struggled to transfer weight from his right leg and swing freely though the ball. 

His lack of competitive edge became clear with a series of poor bunker shots. He would run up no fewer than seven bogeys in all and, before he faces a battle today to make the halfway cut, he will have to get that right leg in some sort of shape to complete 18 holes.

Zalatoris grew up playing golf in Dallas alongside Spieth and Masters champion Scottie Scheffler and is every bit as good in terms of ball striking. 

The only reason the 26 year old is still waiting for his first win is due to his erratic putting but everything was in sync here as he holed a long one at his final hole to finish one shot behind McIlroy.