Rory McIlroy makes a flying start in Dubai

A bogey on the ninth briefly threatened to derail McIlroy's early momentum at the DP World Tour Championship, but the four-time major winner birdied the 10th from five feet to move back into the outright lead on six under par.

Rory McIlroy in action at The DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Rory McIlroy made a flying start to the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai on Thursday.

McIlroy followed a birdie on the first with a stunning approach to the par-five second to set up an eagle from 12 feet, before picking up further shots on the fifth, seventh and eighth.