McIlroy finds form quickly, opens year with 66

Three-time Abu Dhabi champion Martin Kaymer, who lost a 10-shot lead over the last 10 holes on the final day past year, made a decent start with a three-under par 69.

“You’ve got a couple of other people out there like Einstein or George Washington and they just stood out and capitalised on their differences and showed the world a little different side”. “I understand the rule”, Spieth continued. “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 gray area. “I didn’t fight it. I was respectful about it”.

McIlroy seemed to believe, as is a legitimate theory, that the tour could be a tad anxious to implement fresh legislation.

“Look at Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, 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”. “Sometimes I feel the refs have to use a bit of common sense”, he said.

Paramor later moved to clarify his stance. Pelley asked the Tour’s referee staff – led by John Paramor – to come up with new ways to tackle the play and this week a “monotoring” system has been introduced which is running concurrently to the usual method of identifying and punishing culprits.

And Spieth has planned a busy year to help him achieve that.

Howell’s score matched that of world number one Jordan Spieth, who hailed a “masterclass” from Rory McIlroy after the world number three recorded an opening 66.

The “GolfBoard”, a Kickstarter initiative, allow golfers to strap their golf bag to the front, stand on it like a skateboard and speed up to 18kmh around fairways and roughs on a golf course.

You would think the same of DeChambeau, but this disciple of Ben Hogan can not be judged so straightforwardly. Henrik Stenson (65) was a shot behind, with McIlroy and Branden Grace a further stroke adrift. It was very impressive today, minus one or two short putts which is mainly just rust. So to shoot 4- under with the way I felt with my driver is spectacular. “I think all the guys enjoy wearing shorts, especially in practice, and especially if it gets hot, I think it’s a good idea”.

But with his iron play on song, the 39-year-old Swede had absolutely no trouble throughout the day. Leaving aside the lack of convention, he can clearly play a bit too. I’ve obviously practised now for the last couple of weeks and I’ve practised pretty well. “I like focusing on the journey process”. “I didn’t drive well, which is really the key out here”. “I have missed the cut here the last two years so it was nice to get a good round in early”.

“It came from my coach and I. We thought, there has to be a better way to play golf and it came about from the Golfing Machine (a book by Homer Kelley)”.