McIlroy upstages Spieth with 1st-round 66 in Abu Dhabi

Spieth, who started his year by shooting 30 under par to win the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii by eight shots, opened with five straight pars before holing from close range for birdie on the 15th, while Rickie Fowler was one over after two bogeys and one birdie in the first four holes. It was a pretty unbelievable round on a very challenging course.

He’s a physics student at Southern Methodist University who has devised his own way of playing golf.

“The guys behind us hadn’t even reached the fairway, on a par 5”, said Spieth, who acknowledged that he had taken extra time to line up the putt. He knew he was taking a while, but could not see any harm given the fact the group behind had barely made it on to the tee.

Spieth was informed on his ninth tee he had received a warning. He [PARAMOR]just came up and said you have got this and I said ‘OK, I’ll just move on with the hole.’ For it to be the last putt when they are 15 minutes behind us and we’re off the hole, it didn’t make any sense to me. “It helps me keep my same posture, same setup, same everything”, said the Californian.

McIlroy didn’t understand the need for the penalty.

This is the American’s second European Tour event after last season’s US Open Championship and he looks very at home in Abu Dhabi.

“But at the same time, if we’re playing in a hot country and it’s more comfortable for guys to wear shorts, then there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be able to”.

While Spieth said standing on top of the podium would rank alongside winning a major tournament, Northern Irishman McIlroy left no doubt about which one he would rather win given the choice. There are no penalty strokes associated with the penalty, but Spieth could be subject to a fine of approximately $2,810 if he is put on watch and has another slow time. It’s not the money, of course, but the reputation that comes with it which, in his case, would be wholly unfair. “It’s just about trying to play the best that I can”, he said.

“I’ve played a lot alongside Jordan and he’s far from a slow player”. But is there any chance of coming up with something that might actually identify the real culprits?

The American’s card was only spoiled by one bogey on the third, which was quickly rectified by two consecutive birdies, along with an eagle on the eighth, which set him on his way to his current one shot lead.

Henrik Stenson showed no ill-effects from recent knee surgery in recording a 65.

English duo Richard Bland and Andy Sullivan are tied for fifth on five under, while fellow Englishmen David Howell and Matthew Fitzpatrick are level with Spieth in tied seventh on four under.