World No.3 Rory McIlroy has contended with a stomach bug to make a superb start to the World Golf Championship event in Mexico City.
In his first competitive round since sustaining a stress fracture to his rib in early January, the Northern Irishman carded a three-under-par 68 at the 77-man tournament on Thursday.
"The rib is great actually. I didn't feel (pain) at all, so it's all positive," said McIlroy.
The 27-year-old shares seventh place, one shot back from a six-way tie for the lead featuring five-time major winner Phil Mickelson and former world No.1 Lee Westwood.
The challenge for four-time major champion McIlroy wasn't Club de Golf Chapultepec's altitude of 2400 metres above sea level, rather an extended period of vomiting overnight.
"I was up from about 3am, just worshipping the porcelain bowl," said McIlroy.
"I'm definitely a little weak, but hopefully it's just a day thing and it will pass and I'll wake up feeling a bit better tomorrow."
Paired with McIlroy was Dustin Johnson, and in his first tournament as world No.1 the American negotiated a misfiring putter to sign for a creditable 70.
Johnson sits in 20th place, while world No.4 Hideki Matsuyama rounded out the marquee group with a 72.
Defending champion and world No.7 Adam Scott made a sluggish start with a 73, sharing 47th courtesy of an uncharacteristically poor round that included five bogeys and a double bogey.
Marcus Fraser took the leading Australian honours after day one with a 71 enough to share 28th at even par, while Sam Brazel (tied 61st) struggled to a 75.
Scott Hend (tied 68th) sits at five over after a disappointing 76, while Victorian native Matt Griffin languishes near the bottom of the field after a 78.
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