Published Monday, 30 January 2012
Rory McIlroy outshone playing partners Tiger Woods and Luke Donald with a five-under-par opening round of 67 in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. (© UTV)
The Holywood golfer was penalised on Friday for brushing sand away from in front of his ball at the HSBC championship.
It meant a two shot penalty and on Sunday he came up a shot shy of forcing a play off against winner Robert Rock.
2 shot penalty on Friday cost me in the end... Still, not a bad way to start the 2012 season. Congrats to Rocky, very solid down the stretch
Rory Mcilroy on Twitter @McIlroyRory
Rory McIlroy tweeted afterwards that the penalty had cost him but he congratulated the winner who he said had played very solidly down the stretch.
McIlroy also had the comfort of a move up the world rankings to number two after his second place performance in Abu Dhabi.
Lee Westwood drops to number three in the world ranking, but he has the chance to take the number two spot back when he plays in Qatar this week.
McIlroy is expected to stay in Dubai this week before next week's Desert Classic - one hundred miles up the road from Abu Dhabi.
Speaking at the press conference after the end of play in Abu Dhabi, Rory McIlroy said: "It's one of those things - it happens.
"I'm not going to lose any sleep over it, you've got to take the positives.
"It's the first week of the year and still a very good start to the season," he said.