CRANS-SUR-SIERRE, Switzerland (AP) -Teenager Rory McIlroy shot an 8-under 63 to take the lead after the first round of the European Masters.
The 19-year-old Northern Irishman had missed cuts during the last three weeks.
``You get days when you read the lines perfectly and you know every putt is going in,'' McIlroy said.
Garry Houston (66) chipped in for a birdie on the 18th hole for a share of second place with Kyron Sullivan and Julio Zapata. A large group at 67 included defending champion Brett Rumford, who birdied the first three holes.
Miguel Angel Jimenez, a member of the European Ryder Cup team, bogeyed the last three holes for a 68.
McIlroy needed only 26 putts. His only bogey came at the 12th where he drove into a bunker. His lowest round was a 61 in the Northern Ireland amateur event at Royal Portrush.
``I've only been missing cuts by one or two shots,'' he said. ``I just feel like I've been making silly mistakes. I feel once I have a little bit of form, I won't make them.''
Former U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell shot 69.
