Tiger Woods was again at his post round best despite a frustrating four under par 68 on the opening day of the 25th anniversary Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

Out on the course the 14-time Major winner could manage to hit just seven of the 14 fairways on the Majlis course.

Tiger Woods may look in pain but he was singing the praise of Rory McIlroy on the opening day of the 2014 Dubai Desert Classic. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)

However he did the late, great Seve Ballesteros proud producing a superb scrambling display, and then when on the greens needing just 25 putts and three fewer than Rory McIlroy who heads the $US 2.5m event by two shots on nine under par.

And no sooner had Woods handed in his score card and he was asked his opinion of McIlroy’s desert storming display.

“He’s playing a lot better, a lot better,” said Woods.

“I think he has found the right combo with the ball  and the driver.  He had been struggling with that last year but when you find a driver and ball combo that goes forever you also need to shape it.

“So out here in tournament golf you have got to be able to manouver it, and Rory was not able to do that last year.

“Now, I can see him hitting it both ways and hitting shots and that is one of the big reasons he started playing well at the end of the year and won in Oz and is playing well here in Dubai.”

But while Woods singled out McIlroy for praise the visiting American seems to be now having concerns of his own with the Nike Convert driver – GO TO EARLIER STORY