ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — Through eight holes, his day gave no indication of being anything special. Certainly not even close to the best Rory McIlroy has produced at St. Andrews.
An early birdie, the rest pars. With all the low rounds in progress on a wheezing, bleeding-red Old Course, the mop-topped 21-year-old from Northern Ireland was losing British Open ground.
It changed with one magnificent lash.
With no breeze to consider, McIlroy grabbed his driver and bypassed the fairway at the 352-yard ninth — a blast that cleared both bunkers in the middle of the fairway and skittered onto the putting surface.
The resulting eagle sent him off and running. By the time McIlroy returned to the Royal & Ancient clubhouse, he had fashioned a 9-under-par 63 to share the record for lowest score in a major championship.
"It just kicked on from there," said McIlroy, who ended the day holding a two-shot lead over South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen. "It does take something in your round — a little spark, a little something to get you going. That was the point."
McIlroy went 8 under over his final 10 holes — also driving the green for a two-putt birdie at No. 12 — and matched another Open record with a back-nine 30.
It was the 24th round of 63 in a major, last accomplished by Tiger Woods in the 2007 PGA Championship at Southern Hills.
McIlroy's score couldn't have been a total surprise. In eight previous rounds at St. Andrews, he never had shot higher than 69.
He could have had the record to himself but lipped out a short birdie opportunity at the 17th.
"It sort of went through my mind at 17 that a 62 would be the lowest round in a major," he said. "That's probably why I missed the putt."
McIlroy's round was merely the lowest on a day custom-built for red numbers. With rain holding off until late, a light breeze or no breeze through most of the afternoon and soft ground from Wednesday's showers, golfers could take dead aim at their targets.
Seventy-three players broke par — not only a British Open record, but also the most for any round of a major. The previous high was 67, set four years ago at Royal Liverpool.
"You could have kicked it 'round in a low score this morning," said Lee Westwood, tied for eighth after an afternoon 67. "The course was defenseless, and I actually expected somebody to post a 62. I don't think I have ever known St.Andrews as calm."
Former Open champion John Daly was tied for third at 66, joined by local qualifier Steve Tiley and European Tour pros Andrew Coltart, Peter Hanson and Bradley Dredge. Woods, Westwood and six others were another shot back.
"I'm in good shape," said Woods, who wielded a new putter for the first time in 11 years. "I took advantage of a golf course when I needed to take advantage of it."