DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AFP) — Rory McIlroy took a big first step towards capturing a seventh Order of Merit crown when he opened with a six-under par 66 round on Thursday in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

McIlroy was two shots behind American Michael Kim, who was bogey-free in a round of 64, and one behind the red-hot Tommy Fleetwood of England, who did not drop a shot as well in his round of 65.

More importantly, the two players who still have a mathematical chance of beating McIlroy — England’s Marco Penge and Tyrrell Hatton — did not have the best starts and were lagging far behind.

Penge, playing alongside McIlroy, opened with a two-over 74 to be tied 46th in the 52-man field, while Hatton finished on 70 and was tied 22nd.

“Got off to the perfect start, making three birdies in a row,” said McIlroy, who was fast off the blocks in the first three holes.

“I felt like that was probably one of the best approach play rounds I’ve had in a long time.”

“My wedge play felt really sharp. Had a lot of good iron shots. I don’t want to sound like I’m that disappointed, but I feel like I left a few out there. I missed a couple of short ones,” said the world No. 2.

McIlroy is playing the championship for the 15th year, and showed his comfort on the Earth course of Jumeirah Golf Estates where he has won three times, including last year.

“Overall, it was a really solid start on a golf course that I’m very comfortable on and historically, I’ve played very well on,” said the Northern Irishman.

‘In the thick of things’

With his closest challenger, Penge, dropping down, McIlroy felt it would work to his advantage when pairings change for the second round.

“I shot a really good score today and it puts me in the thick of things with three days to go,” said the 36-year-old who became the first European to compile the career Grand Slam when he won the Masters back in April. “So, I am 100 percent focused on what I am doing. After a day like today, I am not playing with Marco tomorrow. I can focus even more on my own game and try to win the tournament.”

Kim, winner of the 2018 John Deere Classic, is having a solid season. The 32-year-old, born in Seoul and a resident of Houston, won the FedEx Open de France in September.

“I am playing well and I enjoy travelling,” he said.

“And it’s not a big deal these days if you are playing a golf course for the first time, because our yardage books are so good and my caddie does a great job of reaching earlier and walking the golf course,” added Kim, who made five birdies in the first six holes of his back nine.

The round included a terrific birdie on the 15th hole, the only time he looked like in danger of dropping a shot by smashing his tee shot left into the trees.

But a brilliant wedge shot over the trees from there set up a 5-footer for birdie.

Fleetwood, the FedEx Cup champion on the PGA Tour, has been living on the golf course for the past three years, and the 65 was as much a result of his familiarity as well as his brilliant run of form.

“I think my form is because of both mental and physical work that I have done,” he said.

“We have been chipping away for a long time. We have played very consistently for a long time and now we are just having a great run. Hopefully, it’s not just a great run and this is how I play golf, but we have got to see what happens in the future.”

The tournament has the richest purse on the DP World Tour — $10 million — and the top 10 players also get a share of a $6-million bonus pool at the end of the season.