Rory McIlroy is happy to be back on the fairways despite enduring an 'uneventful' first round as the PGA Tour returned without fans yesterday.
The Irishman was back in action at the Charles Schwab Challenge, but heads into the weekend five shots off the pace after a two-under-par round of 68.
McIlroy admits that elements of his game were off in an 'uneventful' day, but hopes he can get back into contention today.
"I made three birdies and one bogey and it was disappointing. It was one of those days when I put myself in a position to hit a low score, but my distance control and my wedges were a little off. Then the putting got a little difficult at the end of the day with slow and bumpy greens.
"Hopefully we will have some better greens to play on going out early tomorrow and I can shoot a lower score."
Despite the lack of crowds, McIlroy claims he hardly felt a difference without fans in the thick of the action.
"It felt good to be back," McIlroy added.
"I thought it was going to feel a little more different and while it was a little strange not having anyone around, we are so concentrated on what we are doing, so once I got into it I didn't feel it was much different out there."
In the first official event in almost three months, 16 of the world's top 20 golfers were in action in Texas yesterday as no.14 ranked Justin Rose impressed with a bogey-free round of 63 to lead.
The Englishman sets the pace at seven-under par, and said a bit of luck on the opening hole had set him on his way as he overcame some wayward shots to birdie his first hole.
"I got some momentum," he said on Sky Sports Golf. "I didn't play particularly well on the first six or seven holes but the putter was really hot.
"I got into a nice rhythm and I could have maybe got in the clubhouse better but I rode my luck a little bit."
"I've worked hard for sure," he added. "I haven't just sat around. I had the opportunity to get better. My season wasn't going particularly well up until the Players Championship so you try to look at the positives.
"Obviously it's been a tough situation for everybody across the world, there are some dire circumstances, but you've got to look at yourself, your personal situation, and think, 'How can I make the most of this?"'
