Swing king Rory makes slow start with new clubs

World number one Rory McIlroy admitted he still has much to learn about his new Nike equipment following an indifferent effort on the first day of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

Just three days after the heralding of McIlroy’s signing with Nike, he played so poorly as to leave company officials as crimson-faced as his new driver in signing for a three over par 75.

Included in McIlroy’s score were two double bogeys including driving out-of-bounds, at his 12th hole while he hit just five of 14 fairways on the National course in Abu Dhabi.