McIlroy said that he had not had this type of practice session for nearly 18 months, adding that hitting balls on a range instead of inside would not help his mechanics and setup. “Not seeing the ball flight for a while,

Rory McIlroy has returned from a month away from competitive action and shot a 5-under 67 with a new swing in the first round of the Abu Dhabi Championship.

Rory McIlroy headlines the field at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, with the Northern Irishman closing in on a sixth Race to Dubai title on the DP World Tour