Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy started with a 68 in Spain

Holywood's Rory McIlroy is well placed after a three-under-par first round at the Castellon Masters on Thursday.

Starting on the 10th, McIlroy had two birdies but bogeyed the 16th to finish the back nine in one-under-par 34.

The former Walker Cup star then fired a third birdie on the first and moved to three under with a birdie at the par-five fourth.

He let a shot slip at the sixth but got it back two holes later to lie four shots behind leader Soren Kjeldsen.

Ireland's Peter Lawrie had a level par 71 while Gary Murphy ended the day on three over par.