McIlroy puts Tiger in the shade with desert storm

The only trouble Rory McIlroy experienced on a day he shot his lowest round in three years was finding the way out of the Emirates Club car park.

Leaving with his fiancee Caroline Wozniacki in his BMW X6, McIlroy could relax after an impressive nine under par 63 on the opening day of the 25th anniversary Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

McIlroy whipped up his own version of a desert storm with an eagle and seven birdies to finish two shots clear of Italy’s Edoardo Molinari (65) and three ahead of five players, including countryman Damien McGrane.