RORY MCILROY HAS jumped into a share of the lead after the first round of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
The world number three, who last won the season-ending event at Jumeirah’s Earth Course in 2015, shares top spot with Tyrrell Hatton.
McIlroy fired six birdies and one bogey, beginning with strokes gained at two and three before a setback at the fifth when he failed to recover from a bunker.
He bounced back with four more birdies sparked by a wonderful approach at seven, followed by more at 10, 14, and a brilliant putt at the island-green 17th.
The County Down golfer narrowly missed out on the outright lead as his final birdie putt slipped by at the last.
He also leads the Race To Dubai rankings as he chases a sixth crown this week.
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Thriston Lawrence is the only player who can stop McIlroy topping the money list for the third year running by winning the season-ending event, and even that would not be enough if McIlroy finishes 11th or better in the 50-man field.
Playing alongside McIlroy in the first round, Lawrence could only manage an opening 73.
“I thought I did well,” McIlroy told Sky Sports. “The golf course is playing a little bit tougher than it has done in previous years with how thick the rough is.
“I got my ball in play pretty well for the most part and when I didn’t I felt like I was pretty smart in getting it back in play or missing it on the right side.
“I made some nice pars around the middle of the round when a couple of holes could have got away from me and then I finished well with the birdies on 14 and 17.”
McIlroy has won two individual titles in 2024, as well as the Zurich Classic team event with Shane Lowry, but admitted failing to claim a long overdue fifth major title in the US Open still “stings” and gave his season a B grade overall.
“With how many chances I’ve given myself, especially this year, it feels like I probably should have won a couple more times,” McIlroy added.
“But saying that, if I go on and have another three good days here and end the year with a win, I’ll look back on 2024 pretty fondly.”
Hatton equalled McIlroy’s 67 while in-form Englishman Paul Waring, who won in Abu Dhabi last week, is third on four-under.
The other Irish competitors, Shane Lowry and Tom McKibbin, both finished on one-under in a tie for 20th.
Lowry’s steady 71 featured two birdies on seven and 11 either side of a bogey at the ninth plus 15 pars.
McKibbin opened with back-to-back birdies including a well-judged chip-in at the first. He handed those gains back with a double-bogey five at the fourth.
Coming home, he birdied the par-five 14th and 18th but had a bogey in between at 16.
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Rory McIlroy shares lead at DP World Tour Championship
RORY MCILROY HAS jumped into a share of the lead after the first round of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
The world number three, who last won the season-ending event at Jumeirah’s Earth Course in 2015, shares top spot with Tyrrell Hatton.
McIlroy fired six birdies and one bogey, beginning with strokes gained at two and three before a setback at the fifth when he failed to recover from a bunker.
He bounced back with four more birdies sparked by a wonderful approach at seven, followed by more at 10, 14, and a brilliant putt at the island-green 17th.
The County Down golfer narrowly missed out on the outright lead as his final birdie putt slipped by at the last.
He also leads the Race To Dubai rankings as he chases a sixth crown this week.
Thriston Lawrence is the only player who can stop McIlroy topping the money list for the third year running by winning the season-ending event, and even that would not be enough if McIlroy finishes 11th or better in the 50-man field.
Playing alongside McIlroy in the first round, Lawrence could only manage an opening 73.
“I thought I did well,” McIlroy told Sky Sports. “The golf course is playing a little bit tougher than it has done in previous years with how thick the rough is.
“I got my ball in play pretty well for the most part and when I didn’t I felt like I was pretty smart in getting it back in play or missing it on the right side.
“I made some nice pars around the middle of the round when a couple of holes could have got away from me and then I finished well with the birdies on 14 and 17.”
McIlroy has won two individual titles in 2024, as well as the Zurich Classic team event with Shane Lowry, but admitted failing to claim a long overdue fifth major title in the US Open still “stings” and gave his season a B grade overall.
“With how many chances I’ve given myself, especially this year, it feels like I probably should have won a couple more times,” McIlroy added.
“But saying that, if I go on and have another three good days here and end the year with a win, I’ll look back on 2024 pretty fondly.”
Hatton equalled McIlroy’s 67 while in-form Englishman Paul Waring, who won in Abu Dhabi last week, is third on four-under.
The other Irish competitors, Shane Lowry and Tom McKibbin, both finished on one-under in a tie for 20th.
Lowry’s steady 71 featured two birdies on seven and 11 either side of a bogey at the ninth plus 15 pars.
McKibbin opened with back-to-back birdies including a well-judged chip-in at the first. He handed those gains back with a double-bogey five at the fourth.
Coming home, he birdied the par-five 14th and 18th but had a bogey in between at 16.
- Additional reporting by PA.
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