McIlroy nine back of leader Colomo in Hong Kong

• Javier Colomo, ranked 506th, fired a 64 to take the first-round lead
• Miguel Angel Jimenez and Andrew Dodt are one shot back
• Defending champion Rory McIlroy shot a 73, nine shots in arrears

HONG KONG (AP) — Defending champion Rory McIlroy finished nine shots behind leader Javier Colomo after the first round of the Hong Kong Open on Thursday.

McIlroy admitted to feeling lethargic after shooting a 3-over 73.

Colomo, ranked 506th, recorded a career-best 64 in overcast and windy conditions on the suburban Fanling course.

That earned him a one-stroke lead over fellow Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez and Australia's Andrew Dodt.

The 48-year-old Jimenez would break his own record as oldest Hong Kong champion from 2008, and oldest ever winner on the European Tour if he were to capture the title a third time this weekend.

"I am like a good bottle of rioja because I just get better and better with age," Jimenez said with a smile.

Countryman Jose Maria Olazabal put himself in position to end a seven-year winless drought on the tour, playing alongside Jimenez and being among five players signing for 67s.

Olazabal also won in Hong Kong, in 2002.

McIlroy bogeyed his first hole and made his only birdie at the par-5 third hole. He dropped a shot at the sixth after being forced to play his second shot left-handed from beside a bush, and bogeyed 14 and 15.

"I just lacked a bit of energy out there, I felt a bit lethargic and mentally more than physically, if I am being honest," he said.

"I bogeyed the first, but then just got more frustrated as the round went on. I just felt like I was hitting some decent shots and just not really converting any chances for birdies and I just let it go a little bit."

McIlroy believes he's just going through a comedown after securing the tour money title last weekend in Singapore.

"I suppose after last week, and winning the Race to Dubai title, it was always going to be a bit of a letdown," he said. "I feel as though I am playing well enough, but I just need to get my head and the golf to match up and I'll be OK."

Colomo found everything in synch in his Hong Kong Open debut.

He began his round on the back nine and after 10 straight pars he stormed to the top of the board with six birdies over his closing eight holes.

Colomo lost his card last year on Europe's secondary Challenge Tour and this season has been competing on the Asian Tour.

"After losing my card on the Challenge Tour, I was lucky to qualify for the Asian Tour and I'm 33rd on the rankings," Colomo said. "That's perfect, because I now get to play co-sanctioned tournaments like this on the European Tour.

"So it's been a good chance for me to improve, and why not try and win a tournament and get myself onto the European Tour."

Dunlop Phoenix: Luke Donald shot a 6-under 65 to take a share of the lead after the first round of the Dunlop Phoenix on Thursday in Miyazaki, Japan.

DonaldA offset a pair of bogeys with eight birdies at the Phoenix Country Club to finish tied with Australian Brendan Jones and Japan's Hideto Tanihara.

Donald won the U.S. PGA Tour and European Tour money titles last season. He is appearing in the Japan Tour event for the first time since 2007.

Japanese golfers Koichiro Kawano and Shunsuke Sonada were two strokes behind the leaders.

Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa, who won last weekend's Taiheiyo Masters for his first victory in two years, shot a 73 that had him tied for 48th.

South African Open: Merrick Bremner birdied six of his first nine holes for a course record-equaling 64 in the opening round of the South African Open on Thursday in Johannesburg.

The home player raced to 8 under par and a two-shot lead over Sweden's Henrik Stenson and another South African, Matthew Carvell, at Serengeti Golf and Wildlife Estate on the outskirts of Johannesburg.

Former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel recovered from a double-bogey five on his third, the 12th, to card a 4-under 68 for a share of seventh.

Former top-ranked player Martin Kaymer was 2 under after his 70. Branden Grace was level par.

Bremner consolidated his outstanding start with two more birdies coming home and had no bogeys to raise early hopes of a maiden European Tour title at his home Open.