Rory McIlroy’s carefree 66 at the Open shows a player in control of his game | Andy Bull

Superb first round at St Andrews showed off all McIlroy's skills - the question is whether he can maintain this momentum

God but Rory McIlroy makes the game look easy when he's in the mood. If it hadn't been for the grandstands, and the tens of thousands of fans, you'd never have guessed what was at stake as he strolled around the Old Course in the opening round of the Open.

Up, down and around the slopes and hollows, all the drives down the middle, a chip there, a flop there, each lag putt right up to the hole, each short one into it, the ball only ever one stroke away from where he wanted it to be. He made a carefree 66, with seven birdies, and just the one dropped shot.