Rory McIlroy began his Irish Open defence in style with a five-under-par 67 at Portstewart Golf Club on Thursday. The four-time major champion, who won the event in 2016, birdied the first and fifth holes before adding another gain at the seventh. McIlroy, who is bidding to become the first multiple winner of the Irish Open since Darren Clarke in 2006, sits one shot behind leader Aaron Rai.
