Rory McIlroy five shots off lead in WGC-Cadillac Championship in Florida

Rory McIlroy is five shots off joint-leaders Scott Piercy and Marcus Fraser after the first round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship in Florida.

World number three Rory McIlroy hit a one-under-par 71 in the first round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship in Florida, leaving him five shots off the lead.

Rory McIlroy waits to putt on the ninth hole during the first round of the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship on March 3, 2016 © Getty Images

The Northern Irishman, who has changed his putting grip for this tournament, scored five birdies, but he dropped shots on the 13th and 18th holes.

The four-time Major winner suffered another blow on the ninth hole when he hit a double bogey, leaving him tied 16th in the field.

Scott Piercy and Marcus Fraser currently share the lead on six-under 66, with the former hitting eight birdies and two bogeys and his opponent carding seven birdies and a solitary bogey on the eighth hole.

Phil Mickelson sits one shot off the pace after carding a five-under 67, while world number one Jordan Spieth is three shots behind.

Rory McIlroy in action during the final round of the PGA on August 16, 2015
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