DeChambeau leads in Abu Dhabi

Rory McIlroy showed little rustiness as he returned from an extended break to shoot a six-under 66 and stay two strokes clear of playing partner and world number one Jordan Spieth in the first round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship on Thursday.

The 22-year-old was warned after taking too long to putt on his eighth green – despite the following flight lagging far behind his group. McIlroy was paired with Spieth and World No. 6 Rickie Fowler with the former sitting just two shots behind his Northern Irish rival.

Asked if there was anything different in his thought process now that he is already a major champion, Spieth said: “I think there’s two ways of going forward with that. I have to beat another 142 guys”. It didn’t make any sense to me. “It didn’t affect the round, but Rory and Rickie were surprised as well”. The trick shot masters haven’t done a video yet with Jordan Spieth, but they might want to get the Dallas-native on the phone.

The York-born ace recorded his best round of the year, a three-under-par 69 as he established a place just outside the top ten in the money-laden European Tour tournament. Two monitoring penalties in a single round will result in a fine of £2,000.

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

It was the first round since the European Tour modified its Pace of Play policy – and officials made an example of Spieth, the biggest name in golf.

That is pretty much how McIlroy saw it. “It’s a great way to start the year”, he said. “But if we’re in position [relative to the group ahead] there’s no reason to time us”.

US Amateur champion Bryson DeChambeau, whose irons are all cut to the length of a six-iron, was two shots off the pace after covering the front nine in 32 with one bogey, three birdies and an eagle.

McIlroy was confident that the extended break, and laser surgery on his eyes, is going to help him on the golf course in what is shaping up to be an exceptionally busy year with the Olympics and Ryder Cup on the card. “Golf will look more and more like a modern sport!”, Italian Edoardo Molinari said on Twitter.

“It didn’t make any sense to me”, said Spieth, who opened with a 68.

Walker Cup player DeChambeau became the fifth player after Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods and Ryan Moore to win the NCAA and US Amateur titles in the same season previous year, but has also made headlines for his unique approach to the game.

“I’m an intern. I’ve learned to believe in myself. I’m a golfing scientist, so I don’t take it with any emotion”. “I felt in practice last week I was swinging well and I came back mentally fresh and excited to play again”.