McIlroy felt 'unimaginative' with new swing as Fleetwood leads after shooting 62 in Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Fine, but unimaginative.

That was Rory McIlroy's view of his new swing, which he tried out for the first time competitively in shooting 5-under 67 in the first round of the Abu Dhabi Championship on Thursday.

It left the No. 3-ranked McIlroy five shots off the lead held by Ryder Cup teammate Tommy Fleetwood in the first event of the European tour playoffs.

Seeking a victory that can clinch a sixth year-long Race to Dubai title, McIlroy returned to competitive action after a month away — most of which he spent shut away in a studio hitting balls against a screen in search of a more robust swing that can hold up in pressure-filled moments.

McIlroy didn't make too many mistakes in his first round, save for pushing his tee shot on the par-3 17th and failing to get up and down for par. That was his only bogey, while he made six birdies — including a tap-in at the last.

''It felt OK,'' said McIlroy, looking rather unimpressed. "I've gotten comfortable doing this little rehearsal before I take the club back. It felt fine. I probably wasn't as imaginative out there — I was hitting very straight shots.

''I hit a couple where I didn't see the picture of what I was trying to do with the ball flight because I was thinking a little too much about what I was doing with the swing.''

''I am quite fortunate that it's a nice week to come back,'' he said.

Fleetwood — the next highest-ranked player in the reduced 70-man field at No. 10 — was more in the zone, making eight birdies to go with an eagle at the par-5 second hole in a bogey-free round of 10-under 62. The Englishman took the solo lead for the first time by rolling in a birdie putt from 10 feet at No. 18.

Fleetwood was a stroke clear of Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark and Johannes Veerman of the United States, with Tyrrell Hatton — a LIV Golf player — in a share of fourth place after shooting 64 with Laurie Canter, Paul Waring and Francesco Laporta.

McIlroy, who was in a tie for 18th, has a huge lead in the Race to Dubai standings and can win what was formerly the Order of Merit title with an event to spare with a victory in Abu Dhabi. That would take some suspense out of the season-ending World Tour Championship in Dubai next week.

McIlroy has finished a season as the European No. 1 five times and can tie the late Seve Ballesteros with a sixth. Colin Montgomerie has a record eight.