Brazel carded a five-under 67 to sit one back of Fleetwood and Japan's Hideto Tanihara. The Australian started with two birdies before finishing in style with another on the 18th. His only dropped shot was a bogey on the par-4 11th hole.

McIlroy has a remarkable record in Abu Dhabi, with four second-place finishes, two thirds and a fifth in his past eight starts, but missed last year's event with the rib injury which disrupted his entire season.

The four-time major winner called an early end to his winless campaign – just the second of his professional career – in October, but reaped the rewards of some hard work over the winter with an opening three-under 69.

World No.1 Dustin Johnson struggled to a 72.

McIlroy plays his second shot on the 18th hole during round one of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. PHOTO: Andrew Redington/Getty Images.

Starting from the 10th at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, McIlroy opened with 11 straight pars and could be forgiven for growing increasingly frustrated, especially after three-putting the par-five 18th for par.

However, the 28-year-old finally got into red figures by holing from 12 feet on the 3rd and followed that with a tap-in birdie on the par-three 7th and another gain on the par-five 8th.

"I was excited to get going," McIlroy told Sky Sports.

"The last couple of months have been really nice in terms of being able to concentrate on things I needed to work on in my game and health-wise. I feel like I'm nearly the most prepared for a season that I've ever been, but it was nice to get back out there and it was a great pairing to start off with.

"I started off with 11 pars and it could have been a lot better than that so I tried to stay as patient as possible. I was proud of myself the way I hung in there."

Jason Scrivener was the next-best Australian, tied with McIlroy in a share of 17th.