ANY lingering pangs of disappointment Rory McIlroy might have felt after Dubai were buried yesterday under an avalanche of birdies (and one spectacular eagle) as the Holywood youngster and his Ireland team-mate, Graeme McDowell, opened the Omega Mission Hills World Cup with a phenomenal first-round 58.

The company of his good friend and fellow-Ulsterman, McDowell, has been the perfect pick-me-up for McIlroy in Shenzen, China, as the Irish duo seemed to laugh all the way to the top of the leaderboard.

With 12 birdies and that remarkable eagle (landed by McIlroy at 15) on their card during yesterday's fourball session, the two 'Supermacs' swept to within one stroke of the all-time World Cup scoring record set by Argentina and New Zealand in Buenos Aires in 2000 and equalled by the USA two years later in Mexico.

McIlroy and McDowell went into the second round early today three strokes ahead of their nearest rivals, Rafa Echenique and Tano Goya of Argentina, neither of whom had ever played a round of fourball golf before yesterday.

effective

By contrast, the Irish duo formed an effective winning partnership on Paul McGinley's Great Britain and Ireland team at the Vivendi Trophy in September and are rapidly establishing themselves as a cast-iron pairing for European skipper Colin Montgomerie at next year's Ryder Cup.

They appear as comfortable in each other's company as Ireland's previous World Cup-winners, Christy O'Connor Senior and Harry Bradshaw in Mexico in 1958 and Padraig Harrington and McGinley at Kiawah Island in 1997.

Any doubts about 20-year-old McIlroy's ability to bounce back so soon after last Sunday's double-heartbreak of losing the inaugural Dubai World Championship and Europe's season-long Race to Dubai to Lee Westwood were instantly obliterated yesterday.

He and McDowell (30) casually picked up three birdies in the first four holes and completed the front nine in 29 strokes, seven-under par. Yet the fireworks really flew on the back nine, especially over the testing final four holes, which they played in five-under.

The Ulster pair never looked in danger of dropping a shot at any point yesterday. Yet when they both went over the back of the green with their approach shots to 14 (McDowell saved par with a nice two-putt from the fringe) they plainly refocused.

What happened next was utterly magnificent as they carved-up the 555-yard par-five 15th. Both Irishmen made the green in two, McDowell leaving himself just a 10-foot putt for eagle after hitting the sweetest shot of the championship so far with a hybrid.

Yet McIlroy upstaged him, brilliantly holing out from all of 45 feet for an eagle of his own. "I'd just played my best two shots of the day, a nice drive and little hybrid, and was feeling pretty good about myself," McDowell chuckled.

"Then my partner decides to roll one in from over 40 feet in front of me," the Portrush man added. "He can do that anytime he likes. I'm happy to rake up 10-foot eagle putts because my partner's already in. That's fine by me."

McIlroy polished off another couple of impressive putts for birdie at 16 and 17 before McDowell wrapped it up in style with a sweet 11-footer for his sixth birdie of the day at the last.

McDowell played in last year's World Cup with Paul McGinley, finishing 16th behind Swedish winners, Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson. Yet McIlroy's added length off the tee has given an extra dimension to the Irish challenge.

Having his young team-mate 50 yards further up the fairway took the pressure off McDowell yesterday as he played his approach shots, giving him every chance to produce some real magic with his mid and long irons.

Yet as they both celebrated a wonderful day, McIlroy touched on the most important facet of their relationship. "I think we really enjoy each other's company. We seem to bring the best out of each other out there," he explained.

"Even when things mightn't go well, we can still have a laugh about it. It definitely helps in this format. When there's just two of you out there, it's really important the team does gel."

Three strokes ahead of Argentina, four clear of Japan and with defending champions Sweden sharing fourth with Korea, Canada and Italy's Molinari brothers six shots off the pace, Ireland will take some catching.

England's Ross Fisher and Ian Poulter didn't perform as smartly as the team uniform designed by Poulter, an opening 66 leaving them in a six-way tie for 10th with, among others, Wales and Germany.

USA's Nick Watney and John Merrick were 10 strokes off the searing Irish pace, while Spain's Sergio Garcia and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano both had a frustrating time with the putter as a 69 left them at the foot of the leaderboard alongside Scotland, Chile and Pakistan.

Omega Mission Hills World Cup,

Sky Sports 3, 11.0am (repeat)

- William S Callahan

Irish Independent