McIlroy, Karlsson on top in Abu Dhabi

World number three Rory McIlroy is tied for the lead with Robert Karlsson after day one of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship on Thursday.

The Northern Irishman fired a five-under-par 67 at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, earning him a share of the lead with Sweden's Karlsson.

English duo Gareth Maybin and Richard Finch, as well as Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Gonnet, are all a further shot back in a three-way tie for third on four under.

McIlroy began his round with a birdie on the second and he followed that up with birdies on the seventh and eighth.

He then produced a hat-trick of birdies from holes 11 to 13, before bogeys on 14 and 17 saw him drop back slightly.

The Ulsterman steadied himself to finish with another birdie though, while Karlsson also enjoyed a good end to the day – firing three birdies from the last six holes he played.

Maybin went around blemish-free but the days of Finch and Gonnet were far more exciting, with the former firing four birdies, one eagle and two bogeys.

Gonnet produced an eagle and added five birdies with three bogeys in an erratic round.

In a three-way tie for sixth are Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, Englishman Robert Rock and Scotsman Richie Ramsay, who each shot a three-under par 69.

American Tiger Woods also enjoyed success on the first day of the tournament, shooting a two-under 70 that saw him finish in a tie for ninth.

World number one Luke Donald is at one under, one stroke ahead of number two Lee Westwood, but world number four Martin Kaymer (five-over) struggled.