Jordan Spieth hails Rory McIlroy ‘masterclass’ after first round in Abu Dhabi

Spieth clearly felt aggrieved and expressed his intent to challenge the ruling which he was told about on the final tee and which could lead to an embarrassing fine.

Spieth, along with Rickie Fowler, Henrik Stenson and Rory McIlroy, had some fun in Abu Dhabi playing a round of speed golf in an event dubbed the “Rider Cup”. Far from it. The only time they took a while was at the second hole, where Rickie Fowler, the third member of the group, had to wait for a ruling. “Pace of play on the European Tour is measured by whether a group keeps to the starting interval between groups, rather than if they are on the same hole, as it is in America”, he said.

In fifth place is Richard Bland and Andy Sullivan who both fired a 67 followed by Thomas Bjørn, David Howell, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Niclas Fasth alongside Spieth on 68.

The money would hardly inconvenience Spieth, who was the game’s highest earner in 2015 and this week purchased a $13.3m home in Dallas, but he could do without the headlines and the added pressure.

“So look at Tiger (Woods), Phil (Mickelson)… this is still our generation, Tiger, Phil, Rory, these guys that have done more in the game of golf than I have, and I want to strive to get to what they have done. And I said that doesn’t make sense, let’s make them on the same lie angle and same length”.

“I understand that, if we are being timed and I take too long I get a bad time”, Spieth said via Golf.com. “I understand the rule but it doesn t make a whole lot of sense when our group had caught up”. “It’s a bit of a grey area”.

McIlroy could barely have been happier with a round described by playing partner Spieth as a masterclass of ball-striking.

“The guys behind hadn’t even reached their drives”, McIlroy said.

It was the first round since the European Tour modified its Pace of Play policy, which aims to trim 15 minutes off a round. “In terms of a gold medal before a Claret Jug, that’s just an absurd thing to say”. “It’s probably a bit of over-enthusiasm in the first round of the first event of the year”. “Jordan was assessed a monitoring penalty after his putt on the eighth hole, which I advised him of as he walked to the ninth tee”.

Making only his seventh professional start, the 22-year-old DeChambeau belied his amateur status by shooting seven birdies and an eagle to lead a stellar field midway through the opening round. “I’ll analyse today and see what I can do better at tomorrow and we’ll go from there”. “The course plays different day-to-day anyways but it was just in such spectacular shape”. That’s where my mind is, I’m less satisfied with what’s happened and more hungry to try and keep it going.

McIlroy has not played since winning the DP World Tour Championship in November, but there was no evidence of any rust as he birdied four of his first six holes on Thursday.

Former world number one Rory McIlroy was one who welcomed the change, in one of the world’s more socially conservative regions.

“It’s a great way to start the year”, he said.

“In a season that he considered lost, he still came back and ended up winning the Race To Dubai and that proves what a player he is”, Spieth said.