Abu Dhabi Championship: Paul McGinley rolled back the years with vintage opening round

For the world's best golfers, the Middle East is the place to play at the start of the year - good tournaments played on superbly conditioned courses and ideal weather to fine tune the swing early on in the season.

He seems free of the chains that held him back last year. The smile and the swagger has returned, the talent was never in doubt. Rory begins the second round three off the lead, and many believe he will be in the mix on Sunday. Not many don't.

Easy

One final point on day one was the marvellous set up of the Abu Dhabi golf course. Phil Mickelson said: "You have to be careful as some of the lies in the rough are quite severe". Yes, that is true, but you are talking about setting up the course to test some of the finest players in the game today. In my opinion, that examination needs to be a stern one. Straight driving is very much part of the game and those who hit most fairways should have the advantage over those who don't. You will not beat these players will length alone, but you will identify the best of them by putting the premium on accuracy. The Tour should shorten the course on perhaps two of the four days and combine that with tucking the pins away. Give them different tests rather than the same all four rounds. The courses in the States are too easy. There is little or no rough and that plays into the hands of the long hitters. Their setting up of courses creates one dimensional players. We copy America too often. The European Tour should take the lead, add variety and ask the players some different questions. When you do that the best will come up with the answers.