Dubai: Rory McIlroy sent out a statement of intent on Thursday that he is determined to amend one aberration on his stellar resume as he shot his best-ever round in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and lead the way in a competition he has never won, despite trying for more than a decade. The Northern Irishman blasted a blemish-free 64, to lead the pack on eight-under par, one stroke ahead of Englishman Tyrrell Hatton, who hit two brilliant eagles.