• Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, Round One

McIlroy outshines Tiger in Abu Dhabi

Rory McIlroy leads the way in Abu Dhabi © PA Photos

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• Profile: Luke Donald | Rory McIlroy | Tiger Woods

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Rory McIlroy made a sparkling start to his season to claim the clubhouse lead on the opening day of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

Drawn alongside 14-time major champion Tiger Woods and world No. 1 Luke Donald, McIlroy burst out of the blocks with a hat-trick of birdies to move clear of his rivals.

The US Open champion slipped back to one-under after bogeys at 14 and 17 - the trio teed off on the tenth hole - but he completed his opening nine in 34 after a birdie at the 18th, before a bogey-free back nine saw him move to five-under after adding another three birdies.

I don't feel I drove the ball particularly well," McIlroy said afterwards. "I think it's just because your first competitive round of the season, card in your hand, you can get a little bit tentative or a little apprehensive."

Woods, making his debut in Abu Dhabi, matched McIlroy's birdie at the 11th, and he picked up another shot at the 4th as he kept pace with the leaders, signing for a two-under 70.

"It's only the first round of a tournament," McIlroy noted. "If it was the last day and you both have a chance to win I would take a lot of pride from that obviously."

Donald is a shot further back on one-under after his opening round 71. The world No. 1 eventually broke a run of eight pars with back-to-back birdies at the 18th and 1st holes. A bogey at the 7th briefly checked his progress, but the Englishman claimed two further pars to stay in touch, three strokes behind clubhouse leaders McIlroy and Robert Karlsson.

Gareth Maybin and Richard Finch both finished a shot further back, after impressive rounds of 68, alongside Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Gonnet. Nicolas Colsaerts and Englishman Robert Rock are among a group of players who have put themselves in a good position at three-under.

Defending Masters champion Charl Schwartzel joined Woods at two-under after a strong showing in the afternoon while Sergio Garcia is one-under for the tournament, thanks in great part to a hole-in-one at the 12th.

A seven-iron got the job done for the Spaniard at the 193-yard par-three, who is now able to enjoy an annual three-day stay at the luxurious Emirates Palace Hotel for free as reward for his achievement.

There was great disappointment for defending champion Martin Kaymer, however, as he will have to go on a remarkable run over the remaining three rounds if he is to claim a fourth title in five years.

The German is in grave danger of missing the cut after his opening round of 77, leaving him five-over for the event. That was still one better than Alvaro Quiros, however, as he, Henrik Stenson and last week's winner Branden Grace all had torrid first rounds.

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