ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- Rory McIlroy returned from a month away from competitive action and shot a 5-under 67 with a new swing in the first round of the Abu Dhabi Championship on Thursday.
It left the No. 3-ranked McIlroy four shots off the clubhouse lead held by Thorbjorn Olesen and Johannes Veerman after the early wave went out in stifling heat at Yas Links at the start of the European tour's playoffs.
McIlroy tapped in for his sixth birdie of his round at No. 18, with his lone bogey coming after he pushed his tee shot way right at the par-3 17th and failed to get up and down from off the green.