Shenzhen, China (Sports Network) - Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell gave Ireland a three-shot lead Thursday with a 14-under 58 in the first round of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup.
The duo combined for 12 birdies and an eagle, with McDowell holing a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th green to move them three strokes ahead of the early leaders from Argentina.
Rafa Echenique and Tano Goya shot an 11-under 61 in the second group of the day and their lead held until the Irish tandem finished several hours later.
Japan's Ryuji Imada and Hiroyuki Fujita carded a 10-under 62 for third place.
Defending champions Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson of Sweden opened with an eight-under 64 to share fourth place with Canada's Graham Delaet and Stuart Anderson, South Korea's Charlie Wi and Y.E. Yang, and Italian brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari.
Americans Nick Watney and John Merrick had a five-under 67 and were tied for 15th place in the 28-team field.
McIlroy and McDowell combined to shoot a 29 on both sides of the Olazabal Course at Mission Hills.
Their 58 in the four-ball format -- where each team member plays his own ball and the lowest score on each hole is counted -- is a striking number for golf, but not a World Cup record.
Three teams have carded a 57 in four-ball since the event switched to the format in 2000, including the United States' Phil Mickelson and David Toms in 2002, when they finished second to Japan.
Ireland hasn't won the World Cup since Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley were victorious in 1997.
McIlroy and McDowell, who are both from Northern Ireland, were just enjoying the experience of being in the hunt.
"There are some special names on the trophy and it would be great to add ours there," said McDowell, who took 16th place with McGinley last year. "I think we'd look pretty good on there."
They looked more than pretty good on the course Thursday. They made only five pars on the round -- everything else was a birdie or better.
"We didn't have any mistakes and we had a look at two birdie chances on most holes and most of the time we took one of them," said McIlroy, who is playing in his first World Cup. "It was great team play and no one really put each other under pressure and I think that showed in the way the scores went."
Both players made six birdies on the round, with McIlroy adding a 20-foot eagle putt at the par-five 15th. McIlroy birdied the next two holes, and McDowell made it three in a row at the 18th.
Playing in his first World Cup, the 20-year-old McIlroy had a message for 2010 European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie: I hope you were watching.
McIlroy and McDowell have proven to be a formidable twosome. They went 3-1 as a team to lead Great Britain & Ireland to a win last month at the Vivendi Trophy.
"[This is] the best score I have ever had," said McIlroy, who was the European No. 1 until Lee Westwood edged him to win the money title last week. "We got off to a great start and birdied the holes we had to on the front nine where there are three par fives. And from there we kept it going and birdied the holes other teams weren't getting birdies on."
World No. 8 Sergio Garcia of Spain -- the second-highest ranked player in the field after No. 7 Stenson -- carded a disappointing 69 alongside partner Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano. They were tied for last place.
The four-ball format will return for Saturday's third round. Players will compete in foursomes (alternate shot) in the second and final rounds.