Double Desert Classic winning Rory McIlroy quickly displayed his fondness for the host course posting a bogey-free seven-under par 65 on day one of the event in Dubai.
McIlroy, who claimed a maiden Tour title in 2009 at Dubai and then won a second in 2015, needed just 25 putts to be among five players at seven-under par.
Welshman Jamie Donaldson grabbed an eagle, nine birdies and just the one bogey in his 10-under par effort of 62.
Donaldson, who took just 21 putts, was a shot clear of the English duo of Anthony Wall and David Horsey.
McIlroy’s opening day effort, and returning last week following an absence of some six months, has seen him averaging 67 for each of his five rounds of the New Year.
Rory McIlroy shoots 67 day one 2018 Dubai Desert Classic (Photo – European Tour/Gettys)
“I’m really happy with being being 25-under for his first five rounds of the year and to be averaging 67, that’s pretty good,” he said
“That’s exceeded expectations a little bit. I didn’t really know how I was going to feel or how quickly I was going to get back into the mind‑set of playing competitive golf. That has been nice.
“My chipping’s been good, allowing me to scramble, as I did when holing a long one at 12 today after plugging it in the bunker off the tee.
“My attitude has also been good. I’m not getting ahead of myself and not putting too much pressure on myself. I’m managing my game really well. I feel really enthusiastic, really happy with where my head is at at the minute.”
McIlroy’s effort with the shortest club in his bag was nine putts fewer than day one a week ago in Abu Dhabi and while he works with putting coach, Phil Kenyon, the four-time Major winner declaed he wants to take more ownership of his game on the greens.
“I have taken ownership of it but, at the same time, I’ve worked hard with Phil Kenyon,” admitted McIlroy.
“I have to give him a little bit of credit because we’ve done a lot of work in the off‑season and it’s been really good. I’ve been very disciplined with it and stuck to the same routine. I feel like I’m stroking it really well and every putt that I’m hitting looks like it has a chance.”
McIlroy has also put in place a new pre-shot routine, which includes him using a line on his ball to help with alignment.
“I’m going to be very disciplined with using the line on the ball,” he added.
“It makes it easier for me to line up better and frees me up in terms of making a good stroke.
Jamie Donaldson playing his last hole on route to a 62 first round Dubai Desert Classic (Photo – European Tour/Gettys)
“I started using it a little bit in 2014. Actually I had my best ever putting round on the PGA Tour using the line, it was the first round at Memorial in 2014. It’s always been something I’ve been in and out of but I feel like I putt my best with it, so I want to be consistent with it now.”
Also benefitting from working with Kenyon was Donaldson and who harboured thoughts of shooting the European Tour’s first score of 59 but then dropping a shot at the last also prevented him from equalling the 1994 course record of 61 set by Ernie Els back.
“I fancied shooting a 59 as everybody wants to shoot 59 and, with five holes to go, so I did start thinking about 59,” said the Welshman.
“But then that’s gone now, so it’s just a case of more of the same moving on.”
Paul Dunne continues to make his presence on the Tour with the British Masters champ sigining for a six-under par 66 that included four birdies and a superb 18th hole eagle ‘3’.
Graeme McDowell struggled with two birdies but also two bogeys in a level par 72 while Darren Clarke, and an ambassador on the local MENA Tour, signed for three-over 75.
Playing in the same group as McIlroy, defending champion Sergio Garcia opened with a 67 to be already well placed but then Danny Willett, winner of the event in 2016 and also the Masters that same year, slumped to finish ‘7’ and ‘8’ to be in last place with a 77.
