RORY McILROY renewed his love affair with Quail Hollow as he made a fine return to action after his latest Masters misery.
The Northern Irishman, 28, shot a three-under-par 68 in the first round of the Wells Fargo Championship, his first outing since blowing his Grand Slam hopes with a closing 74 at Augusta.
He is now 57-under at the venue since 2012 EIGHTEEN shots better than anyone else has managed.
McIlroy fired five birdies and just two bogeys in tough conditions at the North Carolina course.
He made the perfect start by draining a 12-footer for birdie at his opening hole, the 592-yard tenth.
His only bad mistake came when he hooked his drive into the water at the tricky 18th.
McIlroy finished a shot off the early lead shared by American Peter Malnati and Englands Tyrrell Hatton, whose 67 included holing a wedge for eagle from 102 yards at eight.
Englishmen Paul Casey and Ross Fisher shot two-under 69s.