Shane Lowry shot a five-under-par 66 for a share of third place after the opening round of the BMW Championship, with Keegan Bradley leading the way after his 64.

LEADERBOARD

The highlight for Lowry was an eagle on 14; this along with birdies on 3, 10, 12, 17 had him set up for a good finish. However a bogey at the last took some of the gloss off his round at the Wilmington Country Club.

Rory McIlroy is two shots further back in a share of 12th. The Down man looked set to match or better his fellow Irishman's score when he sank a sixth birdie of the day on 14 but his first bogey turned out to be a triple.

McIlroy found the water at the par-three 15 and then disastrously two-putted from less than four feet for a six. However, he remains well placed.

"I played much better today than I did last week... I have to take the positives," McIlroy said afterwards.

"I still played a decent round of golf. Three-under out there this afternoon was pretty good. I've just got to reset tonight and forget about that swing on 15 and go again tomorrow."

Seamus Power is level after his 71.

Bradley, on seven-under is a shot clear of Adam Scott, with Harold Varner and Russell Henley the others currently sharing third spot.