Rory McIlroy took encouragement from how quickly he adjusted to using new clubs during an up-and-down start at the WGC-HSBC Champions. The world No 3 was using a TaylorMade driver and 3-wood in Shanghai as part of his search for new equipment, following Nikes announcement in August they would limit their golf production to clothing and shoes.McIlroy mixed two birdies with a solitary bogey on his way to an opening-round 71, leaving him seven strokes adrift of early pacesetter Rikard Karlberg. The FedExCup champion was left slightly disappointed not to be further up the leaderboard after the first round, despite showing signs of progress with his new clubs off the tee. I felt like I drove the ball really well, McIlroy told reporters after his round. Ive been driving the ball well anyway, but yeah, it was nice to see the ball flying where it was going. McIlroy is looking to end the season as Race to Dubai champion I would say I would have been level without them and maybe a little bit behind before. When conditions are like this and its so soft, it goes a long way in the air. Hopefully that can be to my benefit over the next few days.I felt like with the way I hit it, I probably could have squeezed a couple more out of the round. I feel I did everything okay. I just didnt really get any momentum going. Knox is two strokes off the pace after the opening round Defending champion Russell Knox made a fast start to the week by posting a bogey-free 66, with the Scot posting a run of four consecutive birdies along the back nine.I didnt put any pressure on myself, so I was proud of myself to kind of relax and enjoy it, Knox said. Im always thrilled with no bogeys, so Im delighted to get off to a flyer and shoot 6-under. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for ￡6.99. No contract. Watch the WGC-HSBC Champions throughout the week live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf. Live coverage begins on Friday from 4am. You can watch Premier League and EFL Cup football, plus Englands tour of Bangladesh and the Mexican Grand Prix on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy six months at half price! Also See: McIlroy seven back in WGC WGC-HSBC leaderboard 2015 recap: Knoxs success Golf live on Sky Sports Wholesale Flames Jerseys . Emery skated the length of the ice and fought an unwilling Holtby during the third period of the Flyers 7-0 loss Friday night in Philadelphia. He was given 29 penalty minutes, including a game misconduct. But Emery did not face even a disciplinary hearing with NHL senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan because rules 46. Calgary Flames Gear . Perhaps Carroll was so prepared for a break because he believes there is very little the Seattle Seahawks need heading into the off-season. "I dont see anything that we need to add. We just have to get better," Carroll said. https://www.cheapflames.com/ . Fellow centre Pavel Datsyuk remains out because of a concussion. Zetterberg has 11 goals and 19 assists for a team-high 30 points, and Datsyuk has a team-high 12 goals and 11 assists. Flames Jerseys China . The catch: It needs a lot of money, and it needs it fast. Calgary Flames Shirts .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach.Leicester vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha has told Sky Sports News HQ that the club are under no pressure to sell any of their star players. The Foxes were crowned champions for the first time in their 132-year history on Monday night after nearest challengers Tottenham were held to a 2-2 draw at Chelsea. Their unlikely success has led to a number of their key players, including Riyad Mahrez and NGolo Kante, being linked with summer moves away from the club. But Srivaddhanaprabha hopes the lure of playing Champions League football as the English champions next season will be enough to convince the players not to leave the King Power Stadium. Mahrez only 50-50 to stay Riyad Mahrez is 50-50 to leave Premier League champions Leicester this summer, says his agent... I will try everything. We manage Leicester as a family and if they are not happy I cannot say anything. But I will try and why would they need to move out of the club? he said. Pick your team Aguero? Ozil? De Bruyne? Pick your Fantasy Six-a-Side team for the chance to win ￡10,000 Champions League next season, every team they may want to go to in the Champions League, maybe not, maybe yes.dddddddddddd NGolo Kante has enjoyed a sensational debut campaign in the Premier League Bigger club? I understand people want to go to that calibre. At least they play in Champions League next season and they are champion of the English Premier League. I think they should enjoy the moment with us and the way we play it is good for the players. They have learnt to play with each other - cover, attack, defence, everything is connected with them. So, Ill try my best and the club is not going to say that we are going to sell the players to survive or to get the money. I can say that is not in the plan. Also See: Ranieri: I am the Thinkerman Bans for Fellaini and Huth Gray: I have to prove myself WATCH: Claudios champagne moment ' ' '