In a quiet start for the 12-man South African contingent in the first round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the European Tour, George Coetzee was two-under-par after 11 holes when play was suspended for the day.

The start of play was delayed by fog, before Rory McIlroy dusted off any signs of rust in his opening tournament of 2021 with a flawless eight-under-par 64 for his best round ever in the tournament. He leads by one from Tyrell Hatton, who book-ended his back nine with eagles on the par-five 10^th and 18^th.

Coetzee had just made his turn after starting the opening round on the 10^th. He made birdies there and on 18^th and was level-par through the two holes he’d played on his homeward journey.

Brandon Stone was one-under through 10 together with Richard Sterne who was through eight. Christiaan Bezuidenhout was level through 12, as was Justin Walters who had played eight at the suspension.

Thomas Aiken closed with a one-over 73, while Garrick Higgo was one-over through seven. Zander Lombard carded two-over and Justin Harding was on the same score through 11.

Wilco Nienaber carded four-over, Haydn Porteous five-over and Dean Burmester six-over.

Round one play will resume at 5.40am South African time.