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 Four-time major winner McIlroy's last tournament appearance was in
November's DP World Tour Championship which he won to top Europe's
money list for a third season in four and put a gloss on an
injury-interrupted season.
A year earlier, McIlroy launched his bid for the U.S. Masters, the
only major he has yet to win, but instead of sealing a career grand
slam he saw Spieth, 22, take both the Augusta title and later the
world number one ranking.
"It's not about making statements or trying to lay down markers,
it's just about trying to play the best that I can," McIlroy, 26,
told reporters after a sizzling first round that opened with
successive birdies.
"I felt in practice last week in Dubai I was swinging well. I keep
saying there's no reason why I can't bring that confidence from the
range and practice rounds into the real thing. Today I was able to
do that."
Sixth-ranked Rickie Fowler completed an awesome playing trio that
drew a crowd of more than 200 despite their near-dawn start.
There was little interaction between the players on their front
nine, but they seemed more relaxed as the round grew on. Spieth and
McIlroy, winners of four of the past six majors, amiably chatted as
they walked the later fairways.
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McIlroy's early charge was briefly halted by a bogey on his fourth,
but he responded with birdies at five and six to reach the turn on
three under.
Spieth was a stroke adrift after picking up shots at his sixth and
ninth holes.
McIlroy stretched his lead over Spieth with birdies at 10 and 12,
the American sinking three birdies and two birdies in an erratic six
holes, but the Northern Irishman then lipped out a 30-foot putt of
the final green and Spieth responded with eight-foot birdie to
narrow the gap.
(Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
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