Rory McIlroy slumped to a disappointing opening 71 after bogeying three of his last four holes on day one of his Dubai Desert Classic title defence at the Emirates Golf Club.
The four-time major winner stands four shots off the lead shared by 2018 winner Li Haotong, England's Andy Sullivan, American Cameron Young and Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard.
Li missed the cut or withdrew from his last 16 events in 2023 but finished 14th in last week's Dubai Invitational and carried on where he left off with seven birdies and two bogeys in his 67.
"I think I played just as solid as last week," the three-time DP World Tour winner said.
"I’ve been working on a lot of stuff during the wintertime and see some results like this. I can’t believe it’s six years since my win here.
"It’s a lot of great memories and hopefully I can continue to do some magic here."
McIlroy, who beat Patrick Reed by a stroke to win the title for the third time in 2023, couldn't have asked for a better start on Thursday.
Beginning on the back nine, McIlroy birdied the par-five 10th and reached the turn in a four-under par 33, with further birdies arriving on 13, 16 and 18.
After finding the bunker off the tee, he dropped his first stroke on the first but recovered with a birdie at the driveable par-four second.
He remained at four under until a costly stretch, with a three-putt at six, a duffed chip at the next hole and missing the green at eight saw him card three bogeys on the trot.
One stroke further back from McIlroy is fellow Hollywood golfer Tom McKibbin, who carded a more uneventful even par 72, with two birdies and two bogeys.
The remaining Irish player in the field, Padraig Harrington, is one over afterthree birdies and four bogeys.
England's Richard Mansell was part of a seven-strong group on four under, with former world number one Adam Scott and Dubai Invitational winner Tommy Fleetwood another stroke back.
