Scotland’s Marc Warren made a mockery of his first ever showing on the Greg Norman Earth Course with a first round 66.

The Glaswegian ranked a lowly 189th in the world found himself sharing second place with World No. 1 Rory McIlroy and with the duo a stroke behind World No. 1 Luke Donald.

Warren has the new Nike Covert driver in his bag for a first occasion after it became ‘legal’ to use the club for a first time in competition at last fortnight’s Barclays Singapore Open.

Scottish ace Marc Warren says Rory McIlroy will have no concern switching to Nike. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)

Warren has been with Nike for over a decade and the double Tour winner says McIlroy will have no trouble making the switch from Titleist to Nike.

“All the clubs are handmade so Rory can just say to the manufacturer how he wants a particular club made, so it should be no concern for him,” said Warren.

“When I signed with Nike 10 years ago they handpicked guys from other manufacturing companies to work with Nike so in my view the Nike ball, the Nike Driver and irons are the best out there.

“This new cavity backed driver has made a big difference and last week in Hong Kong I was hitting 15 yards further than the guys I normally play practice rounds with so that was a good yardstick.

“The good thing also is the feel and the sound because there is now a thud off the clubface because the sound off the drivers has sounded a bit funky in the past.

“You could stand on the driving range and tell what driver was by the sound it made but this new driver is a lot more of dead thud sound off it so that it feels as though you’ve really hit it solid.

“I was standing behind Charl Schwartzel yesterday and you could tell by the sound when he was using the driver.

“And the big advantage now is that the driver comes with the one loft and you can now adjust and tweak the loft and lie of the head to your own likeness.

“I’m sure we will see other companies following Nike is bringing out cavity-backed drivers.

“It was the first time last week I used the new driver but the difference here in Dubai, the ball is landing harder and then shooting off the fairway which I find is an advantage already.

“So no matter who decides to sign with (smiling) I am sure that the talent and ability Rory’s got he can make any club he puts in his hand perform.”