The pair each carded an opening 67 on the Earth course

McIlroy carded six birdies and a solitary bogey in an opening 67 matched by Ryder Cup team-mate Tyrrell Hatton, with England’s Paul Waring, who won in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, a shot off the pace

The world number three also leads the Race To Dubai rankings as he chases a sixth crown this week.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Rory McIlroy was already an overwhelming favorite to win the European tour’s season-long Race to Dubai title.He made his chances even better on Thursday.McIlroy shot 5-under 67 and was tied for the lead with Tyrrell Hatton after the first round of the season-ending World Tour Championship.A top-10 finish will guarantee McIlroy wins the year-long points race — formerly known as the Order of Merit — for the sixth time, tying with the late Seve Ballesteros and moving two behind Colin Montgomerie’s record haul.Thriston Lawrence, the South African who is second in the Race to Dubai standings behind McIlroy, is the only player who can catch the Northern Irishman and opened with a 73, leaving him six strokes behind his rival already.Canada's Adam Cockerill, from Stony Mountain, Man., is tied for 47th after opening with a 5-over 77.“I am under no illusions that that was probably Thriston’s worst day,” McIlroy said.Lawrence has to win — nothing less is good enough — and then needs McIlroy…

Rory McIlroy is already an overwhelming favorite to win the European tour’s season-long Race to Dubai title and he has just made his chances even better.

The 35-year-old has a 1,785 points lead over South African Thriston Lawrence in the season-long race ahead of the Dubai finale