Rory McIlroy ready to make winning comeback in Turkey

“I feel like there’s a lot’s happened and a lot of time has gone by since that last win of mine back in May”. I want to try and get back into contention and there’s no better place than this week.

Meanwhile compatriot Thomas Aiken mixed five birdies with a bogey for a four-under-par 68, Trevor Fisher Jnr carded a 70 in his debut and former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel opened with a 71, while Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy fired a flawless 67 to tie for fourth.

Willett said: “It’s great to be in this position and the win at Nedbank was obviously a great start to the year for us and now if I can play nicely for the next few weeks it could be a really nice Christmas. When I got that in the hole, I told my John (Rawlings – caddie) that this is looking good”.

The 26-year-old admitted it was more of a mental than a technical problem after finishing 26th in the Frys.com Open a fortnight ago and has been working on simplifying his routine. McIlroy added. “And so I’ve worked quite a bit on routine, trying to free myself up and simplify it a little bit instead”. When pressed on whether he would tee it up at all four, he said: “I will answer that question closer to the time”. “I have heard so much about the brilliant golf in Turkey, so can’t wait to get out there and see what I can do!” I almost got seasick watching that putt get to the hole.

“I’ve been hitting the ball well in practice and putting a bit better, so it was just a matter of trying to take what I’ve been seeing in practice out on the course and for the most part I did that.”

The winner this weekend will follow Frenchman Victor Dubuisson, who used his triumph in 2013 as a springboard to automatic qualification for the Ryder Cup, and 2014 winner Koepka – his absence is officially due to “exhaustion” – before the event moves to a new home in 12 months’ time.

This season’s European Tour still has four events remaining and McIlroy, who enjoys a 271,214-point lead over Danny Willett in the Race to Dubai, will play in this week’s Turkish Airlines Open, the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai and the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

Roping in the chefs to do the chopping, the two players stirred up storm and presented Turkish Golf Federation president Ahmet Agaoglu with their offerings.