Rory McIlroy made a decent start to his first tournament since Europe's Ryder Cup victory with a three-under 69 at the DP World India Championship as Shane Lowry claimed the opening-round lead after shooting a sparkling 64.

McIlroy, after opting to leave the driver out of his bag, registered six birdies and three bogeys at Delhi Golf Club on Thursday and finds himself five shots adrift of Ryder Cup team-mate Lowry.

Lowry - whose putt at Bethpage Black last month ensured the Ryder Cup would remain in European hands - peeled off eight birdies, including five in a row between 11 and 15, on a blemish-free day and holds a one-stroke advantage over Japan's Keita Nakajima.

Another European Ryder Cup hero, Tommy Fleetwood, signed for a four-under 68 - his highlight holing out from a bunker for

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