Thursday 20 November 2014 19:05, UK
Rory McIlroy put himself on course for his fifth win of a memorable year as he earned a share of the lead after the opening round of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
The world No 1, who arrived at the Jumeirah Golf Estates resort already assured of his second Race to Dubai title, returned a flawless six-under 66 to match the earlier effort of Shane Lowry.
McIlroy, a remarkable 74 under par for his previous five appearances in the season-ending event, showed no signs of rust as he got off to a flying start in his first competitive start for six weeks.
The 2012 champion backed up his accuracy off the tee with some inspired iron play and solid putting to birdie four of the first five holes, although he mis-read a short birdie putt at the third.
But his touch on the greens was a shade off over the next nine holes and he settled for a consistent run of pars, which he broke with back-to-back birdies at the 15th and 16th.
McIlroy shaved the edge of the cup as he looked to claim the outright lead at 17, and he scrambled a par at the 620-yard closing hole following a poor lay-up to become only the second player of the day after Richie Ramsay to keep a bogey off his card.
Lowry had earlier set a testing clubhouse target in an impressive response to last week’s final-round collapse in Turkey, where he shared the lead after an eagle at the fourth only to drop five shots over the next two holes.
The Irishman birdied the first two holes and added another at the fifth in an outward 33, and he responded to a bogey at 10 with four more birdies over the last six holes.
Ramsay began with three consecutive birdies and picked up further shots at 14 and 15 before closing on five under alongside Perth International champion Thorbjorn Olesen.
The Dane looked the likely first-round leader when he carded four straight birdies around the turn and added another at 14 to reach seven under, but he blotted his card with an ugly double-bogey six at the 16th.
Defending champion Henrik Stenson, playing alongside McIlroy in the final pairing, swept himself into contention with three birdies in the last five holes to join Emiliano Grillo on four under.
English trio Danny Willett, Tommy Fleetwood and Ross Fisher are one shot further adrift long with former Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, while Lee Westwood’s workmanlike 70 included one eagle, one birdie and a bogey.
Justin Rose produced the comeback of the day after slipping to four over after six, making four birdies in five holes from the 11th and rolling in another at the last to salvage a 71.
But Ian Poulter was unable to continue his excellent recent run as he managed only one birdie against four bogeys, leaving him tied for 50th in the elite 60-player field.
Find out how the second round unfold's when live coverage resumes on Friday at 8am on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf.
