First blood to McIlroy in Tiger battle

Rory McIlroy claimed an opening round victory in his ‘Star Wars’ showdown with Tiger Woods at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

McIlroy outplayed the former long-time World number one where it matters, recording a five under par 67 to Woods’ 70 on the National Club course in the UAE. It put McIlroy into a share of the lead in his opening event of the New Year and tied with Sweden’s Robert Karlsson.

Three players — Ballyclare’s Gareth Maybin, Frenchman Jean-Baptise Gonnet and England’s former Irish Open winner Richard Finch — share third place on four under par.

And Michael Hoey is also in the mix, tied with Woods despite slamming his drive down the last into trees and an eventual 70.

McIlroy’s 67 now has him all square after Woods posted a 66 to McIlroy’s 70 in 2010 Chevron Challenge in their only other tournament encounter.

In the UAE capital, McIlroy outscored Woods in most departments including posting seven birdies to Woods’ two, 25 putts to Woods who battled with 35 while McIlroy outdrove Woods on the two holes where measurements were taken.

But the 14-time Major winner was superior through the greens than both McIlroy and also Donald, missing just one green in regulation.

Woods hit 10 of 14 fairways in regulation compared to McIlroy who hit just six fairways while the Irishman missed six of 18 greens in regulation.

McIlroy began in whirlwind manner with three birdies from the 11th or his second hole before some poor driving let him down with bogeys at 14 and 16.

He had HSBC corporate guests at the 18th scattering after sending a wild second shot into the stand from where he was afforded a drop with a new ball on route to a birdie four.

McIlroy’s 67 now has him at 64-under par in 17 rounds of the National course that averages out at close to four under par for each round.

Maybin started with 10 straight pars before birdieing four holes in a five-hole stretch from his 11th in easily his best effort in seven rounds of the National course.

Maybin is returning to competition after the scare of a month ago when he managed to hold onto 2012 Race to Dubai membership by securing the penultimate place among the top-118 players. And it’s a scenario the 31-year old Maybin does not want to repeat.

“I messed up my schedule last year mainly because I got married but that won’t happen this year,” said Maybin.

Hoey’s round was a mix of six birdies and four bogeys but it was a lack of focus that cost the Maderia Islands Open and Alfred Dunhill Links champion a higher place on the board.

“I definitely would have finished five under if I’d concentrated over the last four holes,” said Hoey.

“I just lost my focus and I need to focus on what I’m doing to get rid of the old bad habits.”

Triple Major winner Pádraig Harrington carded a 71 while fellow British Open winner, Darren Clarke and former US Open champion, Graeme McDowell carded 72s.

“I played not bad at all but just couldn’t get it quite close enough to the hole,” said Clarke. “This golf course is playing a lot tougher than previous years and while the scores of Rory and Robert Karlsson are good, the course is playing like a US Open.”