McIlroy opens 2016 with strong 66 in Abu Dhabi

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Rory McIlroy is looking to start his 2016 the same way he ended 2015: with a win in the United Arab Emirates.

McIlroy kicked off his year on Thursday with a 6-under 66 in the first round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, leaving him two shots behind reigning U.S. Amateur champion Bryson DeChambeau.

The world No. 3 was pleased to get off to a hot start. He can be a slow starter to kick off the year.

“There’s been times where it’s taken me at least four or five days to find the middle of the clubface, and there’s been times where it’s taken me a couple of hours and I’m right back into it,” McIlroy said. “This time it was closer to the latter. It was very quick.”

The Ulsterman, who wrapped up 2015 with a win in the DP World Tour Championship in neighboring Dubai, has an affinity for this tournament but has never won it. He has four second-place finishes in the event, including last year to surprise winner Gary Stal.

McIlroy, who had been in Dubai for two weeks in preparation ahead of the event, beat playing partner and world No. 1 Jordan Spieth by two shots on Thursday. McIlroy made it clear, however, that his Thursday performance wasn’t about making a point.

“It’s not about making statements or trying to lay down markers. It’s just about trying to play the best that I can,” he said. “I know if I do that, hopefully there’s a lot of wins to come.”

The four-time major winner may not have been trying to make a statement, but Spieth was impressed.

“It was a masterclass,” Spieth said. “(That was) the Rory that I have seen win major championships.”

Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.

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