Steele Takes Early Lead at Silverado

But after taking a somewhat deflating 31 strokes on the greens he signed for a 4-under 68 in the first round that left him five strokes off the lead (Brendan Steele) at the Frys.com Open at Silverado North on Thursday.

“I gave myself a lot of chances on the green, and converted a few, but I’ll need to hole a few more”, he said.

Starting on the back nine in mild early-morning conditions, McIlroy dropped an early shot at the 13th, but as the mercury climbed so the scoring improved, and he made birdies at the 15th, 18th, first, fifth and eighth.

McIlroy looked much better Thursday than he did at the Tour Championship three weeks ago.

McIlroy said he feels his “new season” started in August when he returned from two months of healing an injured ankle. He finished the back nine with five straight birdies for a 29 and cooled only slightly on the front nine.

Harold Varner III, who joins Tiger Woods as the only players of black heritage on the PGA Tour this year, made a strong rookie debut with a 65.

“In the pro-am yesterday I was like, ‘We need to get this tournament going.’ I hate it when I’m home and I feel really good”, he said.

American Daniel Berger was four under through 10 holes but faded and signed for a two-under 70. “I guess for a lot of guys, even the guys that played a full PGA Tour schedule last season, then played the Presidents Cup and they’re coming here, it’s a lot of golf. But …”

McIlroy is playing the Frys.com Open before going to Asia to wrap up the European Tour season.

And in return for being granted a release to play in Turkey – where Rose won 1.5million U.S. dollars for beating Lee Westwood in the final – all eight players had to agree to make the trip to Napa Valley at least once during the next three years. “If I can keep hitting the ball the way I am and just hole a few more, I’ll be OK”.

“So it’s nice to get a couple of events in before the turn of the year. It’s a handsome part of the world”, McIlroy said. The golf course is in flawless shape, just the right amount of bounce on the greens. “Just trying to find a balance between that and not feeling too hung over the next day”.