Rory McIlroy watched Race to Dubai title rival Eugenio Chacarra get a huge slice of luck in the opening round of the DP World Tour Championship as the record-chasing Holywood man remained in second spot in the season-long points battle behind the young Spaniard.

On the par-5 18th on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, Chacarra, who is bidding to become just the third Spaniard to claim the Harry Vardon Trophy, looked certain to find a stream that zig-zags its way up the fairway with his drive.

But, after it hit the rocks and was propelled forward, the 26-year-old signed off with a par for a level-par 72 to stay ahead of McIlroy, who is bidding to equal Colin Montgomerie’s record of eight Race to Dubai titles, as the Northern Irishman opened with a 69.

“I didn't see as it’s hard to see from the tee,” admitted McIlroy of Chacarra’s slice of luck. “I saw that the ball bounced, but I didn't know that it hit the rocks.”

placeholder image — Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy (right) with Race to Dubai rival Eugenio Chacarra on the 18th hole during the first round of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. (Photo by Fadel SENNA/AFP via Getty Images)

In a play-off 12 months ago, McIlroy found the hazard with his drive as the three-time winner lost out to Ryder Cup team-mate Matthew Fitzpatrick.

“Wonderful design by Greg Norman,” he said, smiling, of having had both good breaks and bad breaks on that hole over the years.

Playing in the final group alongside Chacarra, McIlroy opened with the longest drive of the day - a 320-yard effort - at the first before rolling in an eight-footer for birdie.

The back-to-back Masters champion then followed a 330-yard tee shot at the par-5 second by hitting a majestic approach that was all over the flag only to run to the back of the green and three-putted.

His best shot of the day came at the par-4 fourth but, along with everyone else in the field, it was a bit of a battle for McIlroy in a testing wind in the UAE.

“I think it was a pretty fair score,” he admitted. “I could probably stand here and argue that I could have been better, but I could probably stand here and argue that I could have been worse as well. So I hit the ball well for the most part.”

On a day when Dutchman Joost Luiten, the last man into a 50-man field, set the pace with a five-under 67, McIlroy is sitting in a five-way tie for third spot with Chacarra lying joint-23rd.

“That's the most wind that we've played in here for quite a while and that makes it tricky,” added the world No 2. “The course set up is a little more difficult than in previous years. And the greens are not Yas Links (venue for the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship) like last week.

“They're not absolutely perfect. So you've got to have your patience a little bit on them too. But yeah, overall, happy with the score.”

On his goal for the week, he added: “Yeah, the old adage! You can't win it on the first day, but you can certainly lose it.

“Played nicely today, so there was never, didn't feel like there was ever any threat of me shooting a bad one.

“But it was possible today to go out there and shoot a couple over and feel like you were sort of out of the tournament. So to get off to a solid start was very important.”