Rory McIlroy admitted he's feeling hungry and refreshed after a short break from the game following the USPGA Championship.
US Open champion returns to action with a 65 in Switzerland
Rory McIlroy admitted he was feeling hungry and refreshed after a short break from the game following the USPGA Championship.
The US Open champion was in need of a rest after the season's final major having damaged his right wrist during the first round at Atlanta Athletic Club.
He took the opportunity to spend time with his new girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki and was with the Dane during her victory at last week's event in New Haven, Connecticut.
But the Northern Irishman returned to action at this week's European Masters in Switzerland - which marks the beginning of the points race for next year's Ryder Cup.
McIlroy admits the event is one of his favourites on the European Tour calendar and made the ideal start in Crans-sur-Sierre with a six-under-par opening round of 65 to share the early lead.
"I'm very happy to be here," he told
Sky Sports afterwards. "I missed it last year and was watching on TV from the States and said to myself that I wanted to come back.
"It's great to get off to a good start at the tournament and hopefully I can keep it going.
Competitive juices
"It's great (to have a break), it's been nice.
"I kept my eye in a little bit last week and practiced three times, but it's nice to get back out on the golf course and feel the competitive juices flowing again and it's great to shoot a good score."
Asked about his injured arm, he added: "It's fine... it was okay today anyway!
"It's totally fine, I've had a good bit of treatment on it the last couple of weeks and just rested it and it feels really good, nearly back to 100 percent so I'm happy with that."
McIlroy came within a whisker of winning the event in Switzerland in 2008 but had to settle for second place after losing out in a play-off to Frenchman Jean-Francois Lucquin.
However, the 22-year-old insists he still has fond memories of the tournament and is hoping to go one better this time around.
"I had a great chance to win my first European Tour event that week (2008) and it didn't quite happen," he continued.
"But I took a lot of positives from that week and hopefully I'll draw inspiration from that and shoot some good scores this week.
"This is my fourth of fifth full season on Tour so it goes by so fast that you just have to enjoy it and really make the most of it."
