Watch Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth race each other on electronic skateboards

It’s been two months and a laser eye surgery since Rory McIlroy last hit a shot that counted, but he seemed to pick up right where he left off on Thursday at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

Imagine the irritation for Spieth, therefore, when he walked to the ninth tee and was told about the bad time penalty.

“We will now be with the players, rather than informing them that they are out of position and leaving them to do it [catch up] by themselves”.

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.

“I just made sure it didn’t affect my round”, said Spieth. “We collided halfway down the fairway – thankfully I didn’t fall off”. “I’m less satisfied with what’s happened and more hungry to try and keep it going”.

Spieth began slowly, making par on his first five holes before birdies at six and nine.

The 22-year-old, who took the sport by storm last year by lifting The Masters and US Open titles, before finishing second at the USPGA Championship, did, however, reiterate his view that a gold medal would be “very special”. Two monitoring penalties will result in a fine of €2000 (NZ$3320).

The European Tour’s chief referee John Paramor tried to put it down to transatlantic differences. Under the European Tour’s new policy, which was put in place before this week’s tournament, players have up to 50 seconds to hit a shot once monitored. I feel the refs have to use a bit of common sense’. With the time we’re allowed if you take an extra look at a putt you’re over the time.

“We all want to beat each other pretty bad, so that should help us out within our group”. Spieth, who uncharacteristically missed a couple of short putts, also had two bogeys in his round of 68. I don’t think that’s possible on this golf course.

“It was a great way to start the year”, the Ulsterman said.

“It was the Rory that I have seen win majors”, Spieth said. “I felt in practice last week in Dubai that I was swinging well and I really came back mentally refreshed and really excited to play again”.

Successive gains over the next two holes took the Northern Irishman to the top of the leaderboard alongside Richard Bland and Mikko Korhonen, before McIlroy bounced back from a three-putt at the 17th with three birdies in a four-hole stretch to briefly take the outright advantage. “I could not be happier”. But we were not delaying anyone behind us and keeping well up with the group in front, so I don’t see the need to say anything.

But with his iron play on song, the 39-year-old Swede had absolutely no trouble throughout the day.