McIlroy's 65 leads Open by three

So much for Rory McIlroy being shell-shocked playing in a major after collapsing on the final nine holes of the Masters two months ago.

The 22-year-old from Northern Ireland rocked Congressional Country Club with a 6-under-par 65 Thursday to take a three-stroke lead in the first round.

Playing in the same group with Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, McIlroy went bogey-free with six birdies, including three in a row at 17, 18 and 1. His last birdie came at his 15^th hole, the par-5 sixth, when he reached the green in two and 2-putted. He hit 17 greens in regulation.

This is the third time in the last four majors McIlroy has led or held a share of the lead after the opening round. He fired a 63 at St. Andrews to begin the British Open last year. He carded a 65 to tie for the lead after the first round of the Masters, and he matched that 65 on Thursday.

McIlroy led by four shots going into the final round of the Masters, and still clung to a 1-stroke advantage with nine holes to play before fading to a tie for 15^th, closing with an 80.

Charl Schwartzel, who took advantage of McIlroy's fade at Augusta National to win the green jacket, and Y.E. Yang, the 2009 PGA champion, were tied for second with 68s. Six players, headed by 2010 British Open winner Louis Oosthuisen and Sergio Garcia, were at 69.

--Joe Juliano