Rory McIlroy has made a strong start to 2026, taking the lead after the first round of the Dubai Invitational with a 5-under 66.
McIlroy is making his first start of the year following an incredible 2025 in which he completed a career Grand Slam by winning the Masters and played a key role in Team Europe’s away Ryder Cup victory.
The 36-year-old was runner-up at the only Dubai Invitational in 2024 and is well placed to do even better this week.
McIlroy finished one stroke ahead of Scotland’s Conor Syme and Spain’s David Puig, while England’s Matt Wallace dropped four strokes in his final seven holes (including a double bogey on the par-3 16th) to become one of five players tied at three under. Wallace was 7 under after 11 holes.
Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood, who won the first tournament two years ago, both finished in the group at 2 under. Fleetwood finished the day with two birdies.
But they’re all chasing McIlroy. He almost made an unusual start to the tournament in 10th place, just short of Eagle. However, he settled for consecutive birdies and made two more on the 13th and 14th.
Two more birdies followed before the turn, but he was unable to create similar chances on the front nine and was only one birdie away from making par the rest of the round, save for a bogey on the third.
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As 2025 comes to a close, we take a look back at McIlroy’s best shots from an unforgettable year that saw him complete a career Grand Slam, win the Ryder Cup and claim the Race to Dubai trophy once again.
“It was good. It was a great start,” said McIlroy, the current Race to Dubai champion.
“I played really well on the first nine. The wind picked up a little bit and I felt like the front nine was trickier.”
“I hit a stupid bogey on No. 3 and didn’t capitalize on the par 5s that followed, so I felt like I left some in the way. But I played a really good nine holes of golf. Overall, it was a good start to the year.”
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McIlroy switched from blades to cavity back irons and was also using a new ball, saying after his round:
“Even late last year in Dubai (DP World Tour Championship), I hit a few 5-irons and missed them slightly, and instead of going 5-7 yards short, I ended up going maybe 10-15 yards short, so I asked the guys at TaylorMade to put together a set.
“I’ve been playing a new golf ball this week, but overall I like the ball I saw at home and today was a good test of that. Everything felt pretty good.”
Watch the Dubai Invitational live all week on Sky Sports. Live coverage will continue on Sky Sports Golf from 7.30am on Friday. Stream the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, and more now.
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