Holywood golfing star Rory McIlroy needed just a dozen holes to pull off the blockbuster shot of his new season in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

The World No. 1 did the late, great Seve Ballesteros proud in executing a one-legged bunker shot on route to a five under par 67 on the National course in the UAE capital.

It left McIlroy, in his opening round of his eighth full season, sharing eighth place with playing partner and good friend, Rickie Fowler and three strokes behind three-time former champ, Martin Kaymer.

Kaymer, fresh from the Italian ski slopes, posted 10 birdies in his eight under par 64 and is now a staggering 95-under par for 29 rounds in the event.

“I am not sure if I have made 10 birdies before on a golf course.  I hit a lot of fairways, my irons were quite sharp and I putted well,” he said.

“Now the gaol is not to compare myself tomorrow to this round today, so tomorrow will be a new start but this first round is a brilliant start to a great tournament.”

McIlroy was awake at 5am local time before making his way to the 10^th tee for his 7.40am tee time.

And if there was any new season jitters, McIlroy buried those with a booming 315-yard drive down the 10^th fairway for an eventual first birdie of 2015, and despite playing the next 10 holes in one over par after a bogey at his eighth hole, the four-time Major winner showed his class with three birdies in succession from his 12^th hole and with birdies also at 16 and 17.

“It was good, to shoot 67 first round of the year is nice,” said McIlroy.

The moment that turned around @McIlroyRory‘s day (went on to birdie 6 of the next 8 holes). http://t.co/toMiJhtGgZ

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 15, 2015

McIlroy managed to hit six of 14 fairways but then he produced a magical short game, as evident at the third hole or his 12^th, while needing just 27 putts when on the greens.

However it was McIlroy’s wedge shot at the par four, third hole or the 12^th of his round, that easily drew the loudest applause from a large following.

His ball came to rest in grass but right on the upper lip of the bunker, and some 94-yards from the flag from where McIlroy, holding the pose, got the ball magically to a dozen feet and rolled in the birdie.

It prompted fellow Ulsterman Dave McNeilly, who is caddying for Matteo Manassero, to remark:  “Hey, Rory?  That’s one shot you won’t practice that much on the range”.

McIlroy, breaking out in a smile, replied:  “Not more than a bucket of balls.”

McIlroy’s round is second occasion he’s commenced a new season in the UAE capital with a 67 with the other being in 2012, and now light years away from when he left new sponsors Nike crimson-faced in posting a starting 75 two years ago.

“Despite shooting a 67 there was still a few butterflies in the stomach standing on my first tee this morning because you never really know what to expect,” he added.

“I stepped up to the tee thinking to myself ‘C’mon, now let’s hit a good tee shot’ and I managed to do that and then hit a good second shot but while the drive and second shot did settle me down you always are always a little worried about a first hole of a new season.

“But after that I just went about my business.

“However seeing Rickie playing so well to be three under after 10 really was what got me going over my back nine, so that got me really comfortable.”