Rory McIlroy recovered from a poor start to post a four-under-par round of 68 as he began the defence of his Dubai Desert Classic title.
The Northern Irishman bogeyed his first hole, the 10th, at Emirates Golf Club but six birdies and one further bogey saw him end two adrift of Alex Noren.
Sweden’s Noren set the early pace with a bogey-free six-under 66.
Fellow Swede Peter Hanson, who was five under after nine holes, is in a four-way tie for second a shot back.
“Overall it was a decent day, a decent score,” McIlroy said
“It wasn’t the best way to start, but to bounce back and to birdie some of the tougher holes on the course pleased me.
“When I got myself out of position I was able to get back into position and make my pars.
“I still feel like there’s for improvement in my putting, but it’s got so much better since I won here in 2009.”
