Rory McIlroy, seeking a first win of 2013, began Dubai's $8 million DP World Tour Championship in blistering fashion but could not sustain the momentum as he fired a one-under 71 on Thursday in the European season climax.

The defending Dubai champion sank birdies in three of the opening four holes on a cloudless morning at the Greg Norman-designed Earth course.

After a 30-foot birdie on the opening par-four, a 40-foot ­eagle attempt came up just short to leave him with a simple birdie at the second and the 24-year-old Northern Irishman picked up another shot on the fourth as girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki looked on.

But bogeys on the fifth and eighth holes stymied McIlroy's charge, and although he birdied the seventh he dropped another shot after finding the water on the 18th to end on 71, five behind early leader Alejandro Canizares.

Agencies - Global Times