Rain lashed from above, North Atlantic winds pummeled from the side, and thousands of excited, umbrella-wielding shapes ...

The world No. 2 shot 1-under 70 Thursday at Royal Portrush, a far better start than the first time he played at the Northern Ireland course an hour from home.

Just as a certain Northern Irishman’s golf ball flew left, but not too far left, and safely settled in the rough, the sun ...