RORY MCILROY STRUGGLED to a dismal 75 on day one of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
And it could have been even worse for the defending champion who launched a late rally with three birdies to bring himself back to three-over.
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Only three players scored worse on Thursday than McIlroy, who is already nine shots behind early pace-setter Lee Westwood.
Westwood, whose putting woes made headlines at the Ryder Cup, had seven birdies and just a single bogey to top the leaderboard with a 66.
He is a shot ahead of Nicolas Colsaerts and Julien Quesne, with the trio of Sergio Garcia, Joost Luiten and Francesco Molinari a further shot back on four-under.
Shane Lowry is the best of the Irish on two-under while Pádraig Harrington opened with a level-par round of 72.
McIlroy's defence at DP World Tour Championship gets off to worst possible start
RORY MCILROY STRUGGLED to a dismal 75 on day one of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
And it could have been even worse for the defending champion who launched a late rally with three birdies to bring himself back to three-over.
Only three players scored worse on Thursday than McIlroy, who is already nine shots behind early pace-setter Lee Westwood.
Westwood, whose putting woes made headlines at the Ryder Cup, had seven birdies and just a single bogey to top the leaderboard with a 66.
He is a shot ahead of Nicolas Colsaerts and Julien Quesne, with the trio of Sergio Garcia, Joost Luiten and Francesco Molinari a further shot back on four-under.
Shane Lowry is the best of the Irish on two-under while Pádraig Harrington opened with a level-par round of 72.
See the leaderboard in full here >
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DP World Tour Championship Lee Westwood Padraig Harrington Rory McIlroy Shane Lowry The Only Way Is Up