Rory McIlroy's opened with an eight-under-par first-round 64 at the European Tour season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

It leaves the world number two just one shot behind the clubhouse leader Mike Lorenzo Vera.

McIlroy closed his round with an eagle on the last hole and he says it's a great way to finish.

"It's possibly the best shot I've hit all year," the FedEx Cup champion said of his three-wood approach into the 18th.

"I had 272 to the front, 291 to the pin; the wind was off the left so it was a nice one for me.

"I just flushed it. As soon as I hit it I knew it was perfect - it was right out of the middle.

"It was great - I started off fast, basically did what I told you I should do starting off.

"I birdied the two par-fives on the front nine and did what I needed to do. It was nice to finish the way I did, I hit a lot of quality shots coming in."

Open champion Shane Lowry has signed for a one-over round of 73 and has ground to make up on his Race to Dubai rivals.

Jon Rahm closed six-under-par, Tommy Fleetwood five-under and Order of Merit leader Bernd Wiesberger two-under.