HE’S SOME kid, that’s for sure. On a pet morning, with barely a puff of wind, Rory McIlroy stirred up this 150th anniversary of the British Open with a round to rank with any in the long history of this greatest major. His was a swashbuckling exhibition of golf played as near to perfection as humanly possible; and, when the sun finally set over the sand hills last night, the 21-year-old Ulsterman was the one left alone as the trailblazer.

To be sure, there’s a long way to go before the newest champion’s name is etched on to the Claret Jug. Still, McIlroy’s wonderfully crafted 63, nine-under-par, was a remarkable effort for all the right reasons: it constituted the lowest-ever opening round in the British Open, equalled the lowest score recorded in any of the majors, and it gave him a two-stroke lead over his nearest pursuer Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa.

Rarely, and certainly never in a major, has the Old Course played so benignly – although the wind picked up for the later starters when some rain bursts also added to the challenge.

McIlroy had gone to bed on Wednesday night with a forecast that predicted a tough day at the office for players. Yesterday morning, he pulled back the curtains in his hotel room overlooking the course and was greeted by grey skies and an eerie stillness across the links that immediately put an extra pep in his step.

“I knew the scoring would be good,” said McIlroy. But he could not have foreseen just how good.

Oddly enough, it took McIlroy a little time to get into the zone. He’d birdied the third but, for the next five holes, he missed a succession of birdie putts. The catalyst for an extraordinary run-in came on the 352 yards Par 4 ninth where he took the driver from his bag and proceeded to drive the green. When he holed the 15-foot eagle putt, it started a run which saw him complete the final 10 holes in eight under par.

“The eagle on nine really turned things around for me. It was great to get into the rhythm of the round and get into a flow. All you’re thinking about is just trying to go lower and lower, to let no negative thoughts come into your head at all.

“You’re just trying to make birdies and nothing else comes into your mind,” said McIlroy.

McIlroy, of course, is accustomed to going low. When he won his breakthrough title on the US Tour at Quail Hollow earlier this season, he finished with a 62. How did this compare?

“It’s hard to compare because they’re completely different circumstances. I was going out at Quail Hollow four or five shots off the lead, and I as just going out to try and shoot a good score . . . but this is definitely up there as one of the best rounds I’ve ever played.”

In fact, McIlroy picked out the 61 he shot as a 16-year-old amateur in the qualifying for the 2005 North of Ireland championship at Royal Portrush as “probably slightly better, if I’m honest, especially the reputation that Portrush has back home”.

That was then, this is now. And McIlroy has put himself in a position of strength, and in with a chance to emulate his friend Graeme McDowell, whose win in the US Open acted as a spur.

“Graeme’s win definitely gave me a lot of belief and a lot of confidence, knowing if he can go out and win a major, there’s no reason why I can’t go out and have good chances to win some of the others.

“I always felt the majors were like getting to the next level. I always thought a major was a little farther away than it probably is. I thought maybe two or three or four years of development in my game and I’d be ready to challenge for majors. But seeing Graeme win at Pebble Beach made me realise that it might not be as far away as I thought it was.”

McIlroy even allowed thoughts of a 62 – which would have given him the lowest ever round in a major – enter his mind, as he stood over a three-footer for birdie on the 17th where he played a majestic six-iron approach.

“The only thing that came into my head, I remembered watching Tiger at the US PGA in Tulsa (in 2007) and he lipped out for 62. I started thinking to myself, ‘if I can birdie this hole, I’ve got a chance of birdieing the last’.” It wasn’t to be.

McDowell, for his part, was effusive in his praise for the leader. “Rory’s one of the most talented players I have ever seen. He loves this golf course. It sets up so well for him; he can hit the right to left, bomb off the tee all day long. I fully expect him to be contending on Sunday afternoon the way he is playing,” said McDowell, who claimed two birdies in his final five holes to post an opening 71.

“I certainly haven’t blown myself out of the tournament,” he added.

Neither did Tiger Woods, the world number one signing for a 67, five under, that left him menacingly within touching distance of the leader.

While describing McIlroy’s opening gambit as “pretty impressive,” Woods was also satisfied with his own effort. “I’m in good shape. I took advantage of the golf course when I needed to take advantage.”