By Phil Casey, PA Golf Correspondent
Rory McIlroy reaped the rewards of a minimal off-season as he made a brilliant start to the £5.8 million (€6.5 million) Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
McIlroy has a remarkable record in Abu Dhabi with four second-place finishes, three thirds and a fifth in his last nine starts, but he has yet to taste victory in one of the European Tour’s biggest events.
The four-time major winner also endured the third winless season of his professional career in 2020, but started 2021 in style with a flawless eight-under-par 64 to enjoy a one-shot lead over Ryder Cup team-mate Tyrrell Hatton.
Rory's first round of 2021 ✍️
He currently leads by two in Abu Dhabi.#ADGolfChamps #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/ZA2o3p70QR
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 21, 2021
“It feels good,” McIlroy told Sky Sports after surpassing his previous best score in Abu Dhabi. “I actually thought that to myself after I turned four under.
“I knew 65 is the best I’ve shot here and I’ve shot it a few times, so I thought ‘let’s try to go one better on the next nine’ and I was able to do that.
“I maybe played slightly better on our front nine but I holed some really nice putts coming in for birdies. It was probably the best I’ve putted these greens in Abu Dhabi probably in my whole career.
“I’ve always struggled to read them here but I sort of got my eye in early and it kept me going. It was obviously a lovely way to start the year.”
. @McIlroyRory gets his 2021 season started with a bogey-free 64 ??#ADGolfChamps #RolexSeries #WitnessTheIncredible pic.twitter.com/93LE3zDyHC
— Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship (@ADGolfChamps) January 21, 2021
McIlroy began 2020 with four straight top-five finishes and – although he struggled to reproduce such form after the coronavirus shutdown – the 31-year-old ended the year with a tie for fifth in the Masters, despite an opening 75 at Augusta National.
“It was getting better as the year went on and honestly it was sort of disappointing that it finished when it did because I felt like I was getting right back into it,” he added.
“I didn’t really take much time off after Augusta. I sat at home for maybe three or four days and was like ‘I just need to get out there and sort of keep this going’.
“I played quite a bit over the Christmas break and practiced quite a bit. Felt maybe as sharp as I’ve ever done coming into the start of the season. It’s paid off early.”
65 for Tyrrell Hatton today ?
He's currently one back.#ADGolfChamps #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/hpgehAgjJ2
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 21, 2021
Hatton made a spectacular start to his 65 with an eagle on the 10th, his opening hole, and also eagled the par-five 18th, the pair of threes coming from a combined distance of just six feet.
The world number nine carded three birdies on the front nine, and added: “I’m really happy with that. I think I got away with it.
“In 10 holes I hit one fairway, so that wasn’t ideal. Obviously I can only play with what’s in front of me and I’m happy with the job I managed to do on the end.”
Justin Rose on his approach to playing in the wind ?#ADGolfChamps #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/z5EXm1O9GM
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 21, 2021
Defending champion Lee Westwood is five shots off the lead after an opening 69 but world number three Justin Thomas struggled to a 73.
A delay of almost three hours due to early morning fog meant the later starters were unable to complete their rounds before play was suspended shortly before 6pm local time.
Windy conditions also made scoring more difficult, although former world number one Justin Rose completed his first 11 holes in three under par.
