RORY MCILROY GOT his season off to the best possible start as he flew into a share of the clubhouse lead at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.
Drawn alongside world number one Luke Donald and 14-time major winner Tiger Woods, McIlroy left his playing partners in the shade as he carded a first round of five-under-par 67.
Sweden’s Robert Karlsson shares the early lead with McIlroy, who told reporters afterwards that he hadn’t struck the ball particularly well off the tee.
“It was a good score and a great way to start 2012,” McIlroy told EuropeanTour.com, “but I don’t feel I drove the ball particularly well and it’s something I’ve got to work on.”
It was nothing that a good practice session won’t fix.
Starting his round on the 10th, McIlroy attacked the back nine from the off and picked up three birdies in his first four holes. Â The end of his round was equally impressive, as he followed up a birdie on the seventh with a delicate chip-and-run to hole out for a four on the par five eighth.
McIlroy’s fellow Northern Irishman Gareth Maybin is a shot off the lead on four-under, alongside Richard Finch of England. Woods finished the day in a tie for sixth on two-under-par, with Donald a further shot back.
Martin Kaymer, who is hoping to make it four wins in five years at the tournament, is among the afternoon’s starters. The German began his round with a double-bogey at the first and is currently three-over-par.
In the swing: eyes turn east as big guns head to Abu Dhabi
Sharapova into Australian Open final vs Azarenka
