World No. 1 Rory McIlroy remains winless in Abu Dhabi after ending in a share of 25th place in the 2015 Abu Dhabi Invitational on Yas Island Links in the UAE capital.

South African Darren Fichardt posted an eight under par 64 in superb scoring conditions to win by a stroke and collect the $100,000 first prize cheque among the 58 professionals.

Fichardt will get to keep $50,000 while the other half goes to a charity of his choice.

Jessica Kanhawaty, a former Miss Australia and Miss World runner-up and now TV presenter, lawyer and model, turned plenty of eyes a day before Australia Day standing with one of the auction items at the Abu Dhabi Invitational gala dinner. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

After finishing runner-up a week ago for a fourth time in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship McIlroy was out in the very last group of the day at 11.20am and partnering Stephen Gallacher his 2014 Ryder Cup winning colleague.

And with McIlroy’s regular caddy, J P Fitzgerald competing in the event, and in fact the only Tour caddy playing the course, McIlroy had Canadian born Claudine Foong as his caddy.  The Toronto-born caddy is a professional attached to the Els Club and her husband was caddying for McIlroy’s father, Gerry.

Ladies European Tour member and 2014 ‘Rookie of the Year’ Amy Boulden drives off the first hole.

There was a humorous incident at the back of the first green when after McIlroy walked off with a par he joked with Claudine:  “Usually when a player misses a birdie at the first the caddy gets the sack”.

McIlroy and Claudine got on famously chatting at every opportunity and with Claudine greatly impressed with the ease the World No. 1 tackles his golf.

Harry Diamond, and one of Rory McIlroy’s mates, driving off the first hole.

There was some 100 people followed the fourball of the two McIlroy’s, Gallacher and Mohammed Farooq but then as they came down the last the number of spectators had swelled to double.

McIlroy posted five birdies in his round at the second (fairway bunker shot to four feet), seventh (missed the green right with his second shot but then chipping to four feet), 10th (tee shot well left and some 86 yards from the flag from where he put his second to 20 feet for birdie), 15th (holed a 30-foot putt) and at the 17th (6-iron to 2 inches right of the flag.

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy drives off the first hole in the 2015 Abu Dhabi Invitational

His only dropped shots were at the fourth (three putts from left edge of green), the 14th (well left of the driveable green but then duffed his second into a mound in between him and the green) and at the last (three putts).

McIlroy was wonderful with the spectators signing autographs and having his picture taken on a day where there was no spectator ropes and no security.

Stephen Gallacher discussing with Rory McIlroy matters relating to their golf shoes.

There was a lengthy delay on the short par four 13th hole where he walked up to the tee to meet with his best friend Harry Diamond and manager Sean O’Flaherty who were playing with the Ladies European Tour pair of Carly Booth and Amy Boulden.

Then when that group teed off McIlroy found himself being entertained by South African George Coetzee and his skill with a ball and sand-wedge.

Stephen Gallacher drives off the 2nd tee – he had moments earlier birdied the first and would also birdie the second.

While on the 14th there were two young boys entertaining themselves by rolling a golf ball into one of their caps.  Gallacher spotted them and took the putter of his bag and said:  “Boys, try using this”. So the two boys had a little contest among themselves until the green ahead was clear.

McIlroy holed what was then the putt of his round, a long 30-footer short of the flag at the par four, 15th.

Rory McIlroy plays out of a bunker at the 2nd on route to his first birdie of the round.

On walking off the green he stopped to have his photo taken with the Middlesborough twins, Oscar Dover and his brother, Owen.  They had earlier obtained McIlroy’s autograph but after getting their photo taken with the four-time Major winner they were as close as McIlroy’s caddy to him for the remaining few holes.

However McIlroy pulled off the shot of his round and hitting a 6-iron and going within 2 inches of earning a $1.5m Sunseeker Manhatton 63 luxury boat at the par three, 17th.  Strangely, McIlroy had once been a share holder in the company.

Rory McIlroy in trouble off the tee at 10 but he manages to put his 86-yard second shot to 20 feet and hole the birdie putt. His caddy for the round Claudine Foong looks on.

Gerry McIlroy had the crowd laughing when he walked up to his son’s ball pretending it was his tee shot before his 25-year old only child easily tapped in for the fifth birdie of his round ahead of bogeying the last in a round of 70.

“A round of 70 wasn’t too bad and I went close to winning a yacht, so overall it was a good day,” he said.

Rory McIlroy watching Scotland’s Carly Booth hitting off the 14th.

“I’ve played here before and it’s a great course and of course, there are parts that remind you of Kingsbarns in Scotland given  both were designed by Kyle Phillips.

“It’s enjoyable to play and not too demanding so overall it was good and I really enjoyed the day, and also enjoyed catching up with so many other people I know from the pro-am circuit here in the UAE.”

Stephen Gallacher tees off the 14th with his caddy Damien Moore in front and with Rory McIlroy and his caddy, Claudine Foong looking on.

So after the relaxed atomsphere in Abu Dhabi McIlroy will become a lot more serious when he tees up Thursday in the 26th Dubai Desert Classic and looking to win the event for a second time after capturing his maiden European Tour title at the 2009 event.

“This week will be my ninth Dubai Desert Classic since 2006 so I am very much looking forward to teeing up in one of my favourite tournaments of the year,” he added.

McIlroy and all other professionals and amateurs where then headed to a black tie gala dinner at the stunning Viceroy Hotel located literally across the road from the Yas Links course and overlooking the Yas Links Marina Formula One circuit.

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy struggling at the short par four 14th missing the fairway left and putting his second into this mound. He is playing his third but walks off with a five.

Spectators looking for but failing to find Stephen Gallacher’s ball right off the 16th fairway.

Rory McIlroy’s tee shot lands 2 inches from the hole at the par three, 17th.

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy putting out on the 18th in a round of 70.