McIlroy felt 'unimaginative' with new swing as Fleetwood leads after shooting 62 in Abu Dhabi

Rory McIlroy described his caller plaything arsenic “unimaginative” aft trying it retired for nan first clip competitively successful shooting 5-under 67 successful nan first information of nan Abu Dhabi Championship

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- Fine, but unimaginative.

That was Rory McIlroy's position of his new swing, which he tried retired for nan first clip competitively successful shooting 5-under 67 successful nan first information of nan Abu Dhabi Championship connected Thursday.

It near nan No. 3-ranked McIlroy 5 shots disconnected nan lead held by Ryder Cup teammate Tommy Fleetwood successful nan first arena of nan European circuit playoffs.

Seeking a triumph that tin clinch a sixth year-long Race to Dubai title, McIlroy returned to competitory action aft a period distant — astir of which he spent unopen distant successful a workplace hitting balls against a surface successful hunt of a much robust plaything that tin clasp up successful pressure-filled moments.

McIlroy didn't make excessively galore mistakes successful his first round, prevention for pushing his tee changeable connected nan par-3 17th and failing to get up and down for par. That was his only bogey, while he made six birdies — including a tap-in astatine nan last.

“It felt OK,” said McIlroy, looking alternatively unimpressed. "I've gotten comfortable doing this small rehearsal earlier I return nan nine back. It felt fine. I astir apt wasn’t arsenic imaginative retired location — I was hitting very consecutive shots.

“I deed a mates wherever I didn’t spot nan image of what I was trying to do pinch nan shot formation because I was reasoning a small excessively overmuch astir what I was doing pinch nan swing.”

McIlroy said nan deficiency of upwind and nan generous size of nan fairways astatine Yas Links made his task easier and allowed him to attraction connected his modified swing.

“I americium rather fortunate that it’s a bully week to travel back,” he said.

Fleetwood — nan adjacent highest-ranked subordinate successful nan reduced 70-man section astatine No. 10 — was much successful nan zone, making 8 birdies to spell pinch an eagle astatine nan par-5 2nd spread successful a bogey-free information of 10-under 62. The Englishman took nan solo lead for nan first clip by rolling successful a birdie putt from 10 feet astatine No. 18.

Fleetwood was a changeable clear of Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark and Johannes Veerman of nan United States, pinch Tyrrell Hatton — a LIV Golf subordinate — successful a stock of 4th spot aft shooting 64 pinch Laurie Canter, Paul Waring and Francesco Laporta.

McIlroy, who was successful a necktie for 18th, has a immense lead successful nan Race to Dubai standings and tin triumph what was formerly nan Order of Merit title pinch an arena to spare pinch a triumph successful Abu Dhabi. That would return immoderate suspense retired of nan season-ending World Tour Championship successful Dubai adjacent week.

McIlroy has vanished a play arsenic nan European No. 1 5 times and tin necktie nan precocious Seve Ballesteros pinch a sixth. Colin Montgomerie has a grounds eight.

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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf