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Golf superstar Rory McIlroy hits 400m drive

Adam Sandler's hit comedy Happy Gilmore made the idea of driving a golf ball 400 metres laughable, but golf superstar Rory McIlroy wasn't joking when he blasted a 401m tee shot at the Scottish Open.

During his course record seven-under par 64 in the first round of the Scottish Open - the British Open's warmup event - the Northern Irishman drove Royal Aberdeen's par four 13th - a distance of 401m, or 436 yards.

Although a brutal Scottish wind and downhill fairway assisted the two-time major champion, it is believed to be the second longest in European Tour history and only eight metres short of the 406m drive from India's Shiv Kapur in the 2012 Madeira Islands Open.

McIlroy's ball rolled up onto the green, where defending Scottish and British Open champion Phil Mickelson, Luke Donald and Holland's Joost Luiten were putting out.

"Everything was pretty much on," McIlroy said. "I controlled my ball flight really well which is the key to me playing well in these conditions and on these courses," McIlroy told reporters after his round.

"I've been working the last ten days on keeping the ball down, hitting easy shots and taking spin off it and I went out there today and really trusted what I practised.

"I'm driving the ball really well and I feel if I can get driver in my hand and have an advantage on the field I should do it."