ABERDEEN -- Three years after virtually giving up on links golf, a more mature Rory McIlroy appears ready to give it another chance. McIlroy tamed blustery conditions on day one of the Scottish Open to shoot a 7-under 64 on Thursday, giving him a one-stroke lead and showing his links game is in great shape ahead of next weeks British Open at Hoylake. "I feel I am as prepared as I have ever been to play this type of golf," a smiling McIlroy said after rolling in eight birdies -- six of which came in a stunning seven-hole spell from Nos. 8-14 at Royal Aberdeen. How things have changed from 2011. At a wet and wild British Open at Royal St. Georges that year, a frustrated McIlroy opened his heart, saying he wasnt a fan of tournaments where the "outcome is predicted so much by the weather" and that "theres no point in changing your game for one week a year." Coming from someone who grew up playing on the links in his native Northern Ireland, it was a strange outburst. That seems to be in the past now. "Im going to make it my favourite style for two weeks a year," said McIlroy, adding he was "relishing the challenge" of playing in the wind and rain. Unheralded Swede Kristoffer Broberg -- who went out in the first group at 6:30 a.m. local time -- and Ricardo Gonzalez of Argentina shot 65s to lie one shot behind McIlroy. Michael Hoey, a compatriot of McIlroy, was a stroke further back after a 5-under 66, and former world No. 1 Luke Donald was among four players to shoot 67. Phil Mickelson missed a 3-foot par putt at the final hole for his only bogey in a 68, a solid start by the American to the defence of his title. McIlroys course-record round stood out, though. Refreshed after a two-week break that included a five-day trip to the Spanish island of Ibiza with friends, the two-time major winner looked back to his sharpest. He showed a good feel on the greens, especially in that barrage of birdies around the turn, and drove straight and long in the face of winds of up to 20 mph (30 kph). One of the highlights of his round was driving the green on the 436-yard 13th hole while the group ahead was on the putting surface. "I didnt really think that was out there," American golfer Rickie Fowler said of McIlroys score. Ominously for his British Open rivals, McIlroy said he felt completely at one with his game, the "polar opposite" to this time last year when he was "not very confident with anything." "Everything was pretty much on," he said. "In the conditions, this is as low as I have ever been." McIlroy has had problems backing up good opening rounds this season, so there is still hope for the rest of the field in northern Scotland. Up at 4 a.m. local time, Broberg showed the kind of form that won him four events on the second-tier Challenge Tour in 2012, earned him his tour card, and marked him as a star of the future. Five of his six birdies came from Nos. 6-12 and Broberg had just 24 putts in his round, putting him in contention to claim one of the four qualifying berths for the British Open that are available at Royal Aberdeen for non-exempt players finishing in the top 10. Gonzalez made light work of a front nine playing into the wind, and was 8 under par after an eagle 3 at No. 12. Two bogeys at the end saw him drop off the lead. Mickelsons round was typically eventful. A chip to 10 feet from a cart path at No. 13 was his shot of the day, while the British Open champion avoided a penalty on the 10th when his ball moved on his backswing for his second shot. A sharp gust of wind was to blame. Lee Westwood recovered from dropping five shots in his first five holes to post a 72, and six-time major winner Nick Faldo, playing his first regular European Tour event since 2010, had a 2-over 73 as he gets ready for a return to the British Open. Tom Lewis made a hole in one on the par-3 No. 17 on his way to a 70. Wholesale Nike Air Max 270 . Hes the same player he always was, only now his efforts are being rewarded. The rookie manager has made a habit of heaping praise on others when things are going well, and accepting criticism when they arent. But in the case of Hurtado, its what the coach is NOT saying that may be the secret to a superb run of form. Nike Air Max 270 Sale . I wondered how NHL coaches would feel about a playoff schedule that allowed them to open a best-of-seven series on the road, which many claim to favour, yet still gave them the precious home-ice edge for a seventh game. https://www.cheapnikeairmax270china.us/ . The hard-serving 22-year-old from Thornhill, Ont., became the first Canadian to be ranked in the Top 10 on the ATP World Tour thanks to his runner-up performance at Rogers Cup in Montreal. Nike Air Max 270 From China . He scored two highlight-reel goals in a three-minute span -- the second on a sideways bicycle kick in the 78th minute -- to give the Whitecaps a 2-2 draw with the Portland Timbers before a crowd of 20,303 at B. Nike Air Max 270 Outlet . -- Kansas City Royals right-hander Luke Hochevar will have Tommy John surgery that will sideline the pitcher for the season.JOHANNESBURG - Prosecutors in the Oscar Pistorius case said Monday they will file appeal papers in the next few days against the verdict and sentence after the Olympic runner was convicted of culpable homicide and given a five-year prison term for killing his girlfriend.The decision by South Africas National Prosecuting Authority could see Pistorius face a murder conviction again for shooting Reeva Steenkamp and, if found guilty on the appeal, a minimum of 15 years in prison.The 27-year-old double-amputee athlete was acquitted of murder by Judge Thokozile Masipa for shooting Steenkamp multiple times through a toilet cubicle door in his home. He testified he mistook her for a nighttime intruder. Masipa found him guilty instead on a lesser charge comparable to manslaughter.The NPA said in a statement its decision to appeal was based on a question of law, meaning it believes that Judge Masipa misapplied the law when she acquitted Pistorius of murder.The merits and the demerits of the NPAs argument ... will become evident when we file papers for leave to appeal, the national prosecuting body said. The prosecutors are now preparing the necessary papers in order to be able to file within the next few days.Chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel and his assistant, Andrea Johnson, had been hard at work since last week studying the judgment, researching and consulting with legal experts, the NPA said.Prosecutors must apply initially to Masipa for permission to appeal within 14 days of Pistorius Oct. 21 sentencing. If Masipa grants them permission, Pistorius case would be reviewed by a panel of three or five judges in the Supreme Court of Appeal, legal expert Marius du Toit said. They could overturn the manslaughter conviction and find Pistorius guilty of murder.Prosecutors can directly petition the SCA if Masipa denies their appeal, du Toit said.Pistorius lawyer, Brian Webber, declined to comment, while Pistorius uncle, Arnold Pistorius, said in a short family statement: We take note of the states announcement.dddddddddddd The law must take its course.Pistorius started serving his prison sentence last week for negligently killing Steenkamp on Feb. 14, 2013. Currently, the multiple Paralympic champion is eligible for release after 10 months to complete the sentence under house arrest.Prosecutors had said they were disappointed with the culpable homicide conviction and believed they had a strong murder case against Pistorius. A murder conviction has a minimum of 15 years in jail in South Africa.Chief prosecutor Nel laid the groundwork for the decision to appeal by speaking with Prof. James Grant, a criminal law specialist at Johannesburgs University of the Witwatersrand, prosecution spokesman Nathi Mncube said.Masipas decision to acquit Pistorius of murder had been questioned by legal analysts. Grant, a television analyst during Pistorius trial, was among them and said last week that he had advised Nel to appeal. Grant also said he agreed to assist prosecutors.Experts say there are grounds for an appeal, partly because the judge may have misapplied a part of the law called dolus eventualis — which says someone should be found guilty of murder if they foresaw the possibility of killing someone through their actions and went ahead anyway. The experts questioned how Masipa ruled that Pistorius did not predict that someone might die when he decided to shoot four times from close range into the small toilet cubicle in his Pretoria home, hitting Steenkamp in the hip, arm and head.Some experts have also said that Pistorius argument that he did not know it was the 29-year-old model in the cubicle might not be enough to save him from a murder conviction as he still knew there was someone in there when he fired his 9 mm pistol.___Imray reported from Stellenbosch, South Africa. ' ' '