Rory McIlroy's 67 in the second round at Abu Dhabi highlighted just how much he adores standing on a fairway, peering back as his partners play their approaches from behind.
As a wee scrap of a boy, he would astound onlookers when he sent the ball extraordinary distances with his driver. That will always be the wand from which his magic is conjured and Phil Mickelson is just one admirer who will testify to it.
"That back nine of Rory's was very impressive, a beautiful nine holes of golf. These last few days, his driving has been impeccable."
Mickelson arrived in the desert warning his rivals that Callaway had made him a driver which he called "my new special armoury" and with which he felt confident of producing "the best year of my career".
No doubt it still could be. But compared to McIlroy's Nike, it was a mere pea-shooter, as he shot a 70 to lie six behind his playing partner, who is two off the nine-under lead held by Scotsman Craig Lee and Spaniard Rafael Cabrera-Bello.
