McIlroy shoots 65 for first-round lead in Mexico City

McIlroy smashed his drives prodigious distances in the thin Mexico City air and complemented his long game with precise putting in earning a two-shot advantage over Americans Justin Thomas and Bubba Watson at Club de Golf Chapultepec.

"I like this place, like the golf course, and have always played well at altitude for whatever reason that is," said the world number one after capping off his day by sinking a 10-foot birdie at the last.

McIlroy won the most recent World Golf Championships tournament in Shanghai in November, and last Sunday tied for fifth at the PGA Tour event in Los Angeles after starting the final round tied for the lead.

"I putted a little better today than at Riviera last week and took advantage of how I drove the ball," said the Northern Irishman, who reverted to his old putter after a short, ill-fated experiment with a different short stick.

"Happy to have old faithful back in the bag and it worked well today," he said. (Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by Ken Ferris)