Six years after first winning in Dubai and World No. 1 Rory McIlroy says he now expects himself to shoot a 66 as he did on the first day of the Dubai Desert Classic.

McIlroy posted seven birdies in round, including birding the opening two holes, before ending with a bogey to be sharing third place with Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher and Germany’s Max Kieffer, and trailing just one shot behind the leading clubhouse pair of Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts and England’s Andy Sullivan.

The big-hitting Colsaerts capped his round of 65 with three birdies in succession from his second hole while Sullivan, who gained notoriety last year in earning a trip into space for a hole-in-one at the KLM Open, continues to show the form that earned him victory earlier this month in the South African Open.

Beneath the curls is the 2009 Dubai Desert Classic winner Rory McIlroy.

Sullivan is playing the opening two rounds in the company of McIlroy and reigning US Open champion, Martin Kaymer who signed off for a five under par 67.

“It was the best day of my life out there playing with these guys, and I just enjoyed so much watching Rory and Martin play golf,” he said.

“So it was absolutely fantastic and to play the way I did in their company was brilliant.”

McIlroy continues to go low on the Majlis course and is now 63-under par in the 25 rounds he’s played on the UAE’s first golf course since teeing up on route to his first European Tour success in 2009.

“Compared to when I first won here in 2009 my golf game is much better and these sort of scores like I shot this morning just come a lot easier to me these days,” he said.

“So managing my game and knowing how to shot a score is kind of second nature whereas back then, 66 would have been a really good score for me but these days it’s sort of what I expect of myself.”

Of course, since 2009 McIlroy has yet to again taste victory and needed no reminding of his fourth second place finish a fortnight ago in nearby Abu Dhabi.

“Today’s round was pretty similar to how I started in Abu Dhabi as I didn’t hit a fairway to my eighth hole, but I scored well for those holes,” he said.

“So I can’t really complain with a 66 to start and I feel like I’ve started off this tournament pretty well the last few years, and it’s another good one and something to build on.”

Gallacher showed he was not about to hand back his double winning Dubai crown back without a fight birding the first and then holing an eight-yard bunker shot at his third hole.

“This round is a statement that I don’t want to give the trophy back without a fight but then it is only the first round and I still have three rounds to play,” said the Scot.

Gallache is looking to join a select group of five players to have won three European Tour events in succession.

Unfortunately, former Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen succumb to on-going back concerns and had to withdraw before teeing up.

The South African arrived at the course but after hitting a few balls, and also paying tribute to fellow St. Andrews Open winner Kel Nagle who died earlier today, advised officials he was withdrawing.