Rory McIlroy has made a strong start to his title defense, with an impressive first round of the DP World Tour Championship boosting his hopes for further success in the Race to Dubai.
McIlroy arrived at Jumeirah Golf Estates at the top of the DP World Tour season standings with a 767-point lead, but only Marco Penge and Tyrrell Hatton can stop him from winning the Race to Dubai for the fourth time in a row.
The world No. 2 player asserted himself early in the opening with three consecutive birdies, and despite a low score on the first day, he continued to advance, posting a 6-under 66 to move within two strokes of the early leader Michael Kim.
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Rory McIlroy begins the round with three consecutive birdies as he looks to defend his DP World Tour Championship title.
Ryder Cup teammate Tommy Fleetwood made five birdies in six holes on the back nine to hold sole second place, while McIlroy improved by one stroke to move into a tie for third with Thriston Lawrence and Andy Sullivan.
A solo second-place finish would guarantee McIlroy a seventh success in the Race to Dubai, allowing him to move into Colin Montgomerie’s record regardless of results elsewhere, but Penge’s disappointing opening race has increased his chances of winning another Order of Merit.
Penge needed a three-way share of second place to have a chance of overtaking McIlroy and finished the opening round with a 74 to tie for 46th place, while Hatton needed a win and a result and shot a bogey-free 70 to move six strokes back.
Kim leads as Fleetwood and McIlroy impress
American Kim set the clubhouse target after delivering a masterclass in approach play with a bogey-free 64, giving up 11 chances from inside 10 feet and making five birdies on six holes on the back nine.
Fleetwood, who lost in a play-off at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Sunday, got off to a bird-by-bird start and tied Kim’s bird-by-birdie from the 10th hole to go seven under, with McIlroy maintaining his formidable record in the tournament with an opening 66.
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Rory McIlroy showed off his brilliant wedge play with an impressive 66 on opening day of the DP World Tour Championship.
McIlroy followed up his string of birdies with another hole on the par-4 third from about 20 feet and a birdie on the par-5 seventh to erase his only bogey on the par-3 fourth.
World No. 2 McIlroy started the back nine with consecutive birdies, and although he came close to making a hole-in-one on the par-3 13th hole, he missed his birdie chance. He took advantage of the opportunity on the next par-5, and McIlroy finished the round with four consecutive pars.
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After a strong start in Dubai, Rory McIlroy says he has definitely improved in terms of taking wedges off and making mistakes from his game.
Lawrence was 7 under after 15 holes, but faltered in the final stages, bogeyed the 17th hole and missed the final birdie. Sullivan is also tied with South Africa’s Lawrence, and McIlroy is at 6 under after a bogey-free start.
2023 champion Nikolai Hujgaard is on five under par, sharing sixth place with Daniel Hillier and Brandon Robinson-Thompson, while Shane Lowry and Justin Rose are part of a crowded field at four under, with nine members of Europe’s Ryder Cup winning team competing.
Penzi had a frustrating first day, struggling with his approach play and was under par after eight holes, but then had four bogeys in a six-hole stretch, and there are now only two players below him on the 52-man leaderboard.
McIlroy closes in on the early lead by two strokes at DP World Tour Championship
McIlroy buoyed by ‘perfect start’ in Dubai
Rory McIlroy (6 under, tied for third): “I got off to a perfect start and had three birdies in a row. Yeah, I felt like it was probably one of the best rounds of approach play I’ve ever had. My wedge play felt really sharp. There were a lot of good iron shots.”
“I don’t want to seem too disappointed, but I feel like I left some things out. I missed some short shots. Overall, it was a really solid start on a golf course that was very comfortable and has historically played very well.”
Tommy Fleetwood (7 under, 2nd place): “I feel like I had a really good day. I didn’t think it would be that easy. I had some really good scores. I had some really tough shots on that back nine and I felt like I got into a really good rhythm.”
“I drove really well, like I’ve driven all year. It was a really good driving day. Yeah, a really good score. Like I said, there were a lot of tough shots and some pins were hidden. I made a couple of good par saves. That was the key.”
Who will win the race to Dubai? Watch the DP World Tour Championship live on Sky Sports. Live coverage will continue on Sky Sports Golf from 7am on Friday. Stream DP World Tour and more without a contract.
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