GOLF: Rory McIlroy makes amends after early mistakes at Dubai Desert Classic

Starting on the back nine at Emirates Golf Club, McIlroy had to hole from 15 feet for bogey on the 10th after finding a greenside bunker with his approach and watching his recovery attempt roll off the green and back to his feet.

The world number two also did well to scramble a bogey on the second after hooking his tee shot deep into the trees and failing to find the fairway with his second shot, but fired six birdies to finish four under par, two behind clubhouse leader Alex Noren of Sweden.

“I thought I did well considering the start and some of the shots I hit throughout the round,” McIlroy told Sky Sports.

“I felt like 68 was probably a fair reflection of how I played.

“It wasn’t the best way to start, bogeying a par five, and the bogey I made on the second hole, which is a birdie hole out here... but to bounce back and to birdie some of the tougher holes on the course, I was really pleased with that. And when I got myself out of position I was able to get back in play and make my pars.

“I don’t feel I could have really gone any lower than that but at the same time I gave myself enough chances to make some birdies. All in all it was a decent day, a decent score, especially looking at the conditions this afternoon; it looks like it’s going to be quite tricky out there.”

McIlroy started his recovery on the par-five 13th, the four-time major winner cutting his approach from 219 yards around a palm tree on the edge of the fairway and finishing just 10 feet from the hole.

The 26-year-old missed the eagle putt but tapped in for birdie and holed from eight feet for another on the next before completing the back nine in remarkable style.

McIlroy’s 329-yard drive ran through the dogleg and into a water hazard, but after taking a penalty drop he fired a long iron to seven feet and calmly holed for birdie.

A bogey on the second was followed by birdies on the third, fifth and sixth, the latter coming from a matter of millimetres after a brilliant approach from 200 yards stopped on the edge of the hole.

Noren, who was joint second behind McIlroy 12 months ago, carded six birdies in a flawless 66 to enjoy a one-shot lead over compatriot Peter Hanson, Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Australia’s Brett Rumford and South Africa’s Trevor Fisher Jnr.

McIlroy was part of an eight-way tie for sixth which also included three-time champion Ernie Els and the English trio of Chris Wood, Graeme Storm and Simon Dyson.

Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke had held the outright lead after 13 holes, but the former Open champion played the remaining five in five over to card a disappointing 71.