LAST UPDATE | 18 Nov 2021
RORY MCILROY HAS got off to a dream start in the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai – he has the clubhouse lead on seven under.
The $9m tournament – held at the Jumeirah Golf Estates – features Collin Morikawa and Billy Horschel who are number 1 and 2 in the Race to Dubai standings.
Each player is seeking to become the first American to win the season-long race.
If they are going to win this tournament though then they are going to have to contend with McIlroy who has played some superb golf this morning.
The Ulsterman got proceedings under way with a birdie at the first before his approach to the second left him with a 13-footer for eagle. He nailed it to go three-under thru two holes.
It got better. His approach at the fifth landed adjacent to the hole and after a simple putt, he was already one shot behind the leaders. By the seventh he was in a share of the lead with Tapio Pulkannen on five-under – an eagle putt from 38 feet going close before the birdie became a formality.
On he went, getting a birdie from 16 feet at the eighth to take the outright lead and while he dropped a shot at the ninth, by the tenth he was back in front, getting yet another birdie to lead on six-under.
He then birdied the last hole to finish with a round of 65. Tapio Pulkannen is two shots back in second spot.
Shane Lowry is also in action and three under after a solid start to proceedings. The Offaly native is in a tie for 15th.
