Published Thursday, 24 November 2011
The duo, who have both claimed the US Open Championship within the last two years, got off to a solid start on Thursday, carding a 63 to lie nine under par.
"I thought it was a very solid opening day," said McIlroy, who was second with McDowell when the event was last played two years ago.
"We sort of set a target around eight to 10 under par that we thought was going to be a good score out there and we managed to shoot something around that.
"It puts us in a great position going into the next three days.
"The fourballs this week are where you're going to make most of your birdies and the foursomes is a more demanding format where both players need to be on their games to shoot a low score.
"It was a good start but we know we still have got a tough job ahead of us."
McDowell added: "We are both playing solid."
"Tomorrow is the most important format in this tournament.
"Tomorrow will separate the men from the boys a little bit and we are very happy the way we are playing."
The Australian pairing of Richard Green and Brendan Jones lead the field after a superb opening round 61, Scotland's Martin Laird and Stephen Gallacher joining McDowell and McIlroy in second place.
Holland and the United States are tied for fourth on eight under par while the English pairing of Justin Rose and Ian Poulter had a run of four consecutive birdies on the back nine to thank for lifting them to six under.
The Welsh pair of Rhys Davies and Jamie Donaldson were a shot further back after a 67.