Bamboozled Rory put back on track by JP

Too often Rory McIlroy has been forced to defend his caddy, but the world number two was singing the praises of JP Fitzgerald after clawing his way back into contention on the opening day of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

McIlroy was level par after nine holes when he asked Fitzgerald for help in reading the greens over the closing nine holes on the Emirates Club course.

McIlroy went on to birdie six of his inward nine to record a six-under-par 66 — three strokes behind leader Spaniard Rafael Cabrera-Bello. Scotland’s Scott Jamieson and Germany’s Marcel Siem are next best at seven under par.