Rory McIlroy has confirmed he is back to top form with a barrage of birdies for a stunning 63 in the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic golf event.
Firing seven birdies and an eagle on Thursday, the 24-year-old Northern Irishman continued his storming start to the season after his second place in Abu Dhabi two weeks ago, his first tournament since winning the Australian Open in early December.
It was a flawless display that left playing partner Tiger Woods in the shade, although the world No.1 was happy to settle for a four-under-par 68 in his second tournament of the year.
His opener last week at Torrey Pines in San Diego ended in a 79 on Saturday to miss the secondary cut at the Farmers Insurance Open.
The third member of the group, defending champion Stephen Gallacher of Scotland, was also high up the early leaderboard with a 66.
With playing conditions ideal at the par-72 Majlis Course, hosting the 25th anniversary of the $US2.5 million ($A2.85 million) tournament which blazed new paths for the European Tour and brought the Gulf region onto the golfing map, scoring was understandably low.
Playing down the easier back nine to start with, McIlroy, on the rebound after a frustrating 2013, had five birdies in seven holes from the 12th to briefly take the lead at the turn.
Minutes later, Frenchman Julien Quesne pitched a sand wedge onto the 17th green from 105 metres and it spun back into the hole for eagle which eased him out to six-under.
But a birdie at the second and a 10-foot putt for eagle at the third put McIlroy back on the pace. He sank a 15-footer at the par-3 seventh to get to nine-under and only Quesne was within three strokes.
The Ulsterman parred his way in from there, coming up just short with a 15-footer for birdie at the last.
Woods started well with four birdies down the back nine and, while he struggled for accuracy off the tee on the way in, his short game was good enough to avoid any bogeys.
In-form South African Richard Sterne also came in early with a 66, while joining Woods on 68 were Scotland's Paul Lawrie and Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark.
Among the starters in the afternoon were South African veteran and record three-time Dubai winner Ernie Els alongside world No.3 Swede Henrik Stenson and Denmark's Thomas Bjorn.
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