McIlroy edges Spieth in Abu Dhabi

World number one Spieth, who uncharacteristically missed a couple of short putts, like McIlroy also made two bogeys in his round of 68.

It was the first round since the European Tour modified its Pace of Play policy, which aims to trim 15 minutes off a round.

Rory McIlroy shot a six-under 66 in the first round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship on Thursday.

“It s a great way to start the year. I’ve not heard one person, one Tour player complain about it. And most of the guys that are really talking highly of it are the older guys, oddly enough”. “Sometimes I feel the refs have to use a bit of common sense”, he said. My thing was not to fight it there and go about finishing my round.

“I drove the ball well and that’s one of the secrets around this course because if you hit it into the rough, it’s hard just to reach the green. I think I’ll be remembered for my Major championships”, he said.

Golf is returning to the Olympics this August for the first time since 1904, although its inclusion has divided opinion with some players declaring it little more than an “exhibition” sport.

McIlroy stretched his lead over Spieth with birdies at 10 and 12, the American sinking three birdies and two birdies in an erratic six holes, but the Northern Irishman then lipped out a 30-foot putt of the final green and Spieth responded with eight-foot birdie to narrow the gap.

They held a USA vs. Europe “Rider Cup” race between Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler, and Rory McIlroy and Henrik Stenson. “Nine holes Monday and nine holes Tuesday and that’s all you need if you understand the golf course – you have contour maps and everything like that it makes it super simple, super smooth to get the golf course figured out”.

“But it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense when our group had caught up with the one in front, we were coming off the clock and it had no effect on the round”.

“It was pretty good”. I want to play my best and I don’t have to just beat Jordan Spieth this week.

The next day, the main invitational takes place with 58 professionals partnering an amateur VIP to play for a share of AED 1 million-prize fund, while the amateurs compete for glory. “I m getting used to and getting more comfortable each event”.

Stenson birdied five of the last eight holes in his first round since keyhole surgery on his right knee in December. The 22-year-old from California tests the balance of his golf balls as routine in Epsom salts and, to assist with posture, has a set of irons with all shafts the exact same length.

On Thursday at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, Spieth, who is making his debut in the tournament, was given a “monitoring” penalty that, if it happens again, will lead to a fine.