RORY MCILROY IS one shot clear after the opening day of the Dubai Invitational.
The world number two carded a first-round 66 to set the early mark at the Dubai Creek Resort on five-under par.
Scotland’s Conor Syme and Spaniard David Puig are one shot off the lead after finishing their rounds on four-under par.
Shane Lowry, playing alongside McIlroy, opened with a two-under par 69.
McIlroy, who was runner-up in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2024, fired six birdies in his opening nine holes to make the turn on five-under par.
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An 11-foot birdie at the first moved him to six-under before he was caught out of position off the tee on the par-four third and three-putted for bogey.
New year, new equipment, same old Rory 🎯
The Grand Slam Champion leads the Dubai Invitational agter making four birdies in his first eight holes thanks to approach play like this 😍#DubaiInvitationalpic.twitter.com/iLlb2N9Zhy
McIlroy said: “It was good, I got off to a great start, played a very good first nine and then the wind got up a little bit and it felt that front nine, our second nine, was the trickier one.
“I made a silly bogey on three and then didn’t capitalise on the par five after that so I felt I left a few out there on that side but I played a really good nine holes of golf going out.”
Lowry also enjoyed a fast start and was four-under through his first 12 holes before back-to-back bogeys on six and seven saw him hand back some of that early momentum.
Reflecting afterwards, Lowry said: “I’m very fortunate that Rory’s a good friend. You see what he’s achieved. Obviously, I know, I’m not stupid enough to think I’m going to win a Grand Slam or anything, but I look at him and he’s a great person for me to reach towards.
"I'm very fortunate that Rory's a good friend. I'm not stupid enough to think I'm going to win a Grand Slam or anything, but I look at him and say he's a great person to reach for.
I always say if I can get close to him in every tournament, then I have a chance. I'm a firm… pic.twitter.com/d9kx2plolY
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Rory McIlroy leads Dubai Invitational after first round
LAST UPDATE | 15 Jan
RORY MCILROY IS one shot clear after the opening day of the Dubai Invitational.
The world number two carded a first-round 66 to set the early mark at the Dubai Creek Resort on five-under par.
Scotland’s Conor Syme and Spaniard David Puig are one shot off the lead after finishing their rounds on four-under par.
Shane Lowry, playing alongside McIlroy, opened with a two-under par 69.
McIlroy, who was runner-up in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2024, fired six birdies in his opening nine holes to make the turn on five-under par.
An 11-foot birdie at the first moved him to six-under before he was caught out of position off the tee on the par-four third and three-putted for bogey.
McIlroy said: “It was good, I got off to a great start, played a very good first nine and then the wind got up a little bit and it felt that front nine, our second nine, was the trickier one.
“I made a silly bogey on three and then didn’t capitalise on the par five after that so I felt I left a few out there on that side but I played a really good nine holes of golf going out.”
Lowry also enjoyed a fast start and was four-under through his first 12 holes before back-to-back bogeys on six and seven saw him hand back some of that early momentum.
Reflecting afterwards, Lowry said: “I’m very fortunate that Rory’s a good friend. You see what he’s achieved. Obviously, I know, I’m not stupid enough to think I’m going to win a Grand Slam or anything, but I look at him and he’s a great person for me to reach towards.
“I always say if I can get close to him in every tournament, and play well coming in, I can have a chance to win.
“I’m a firm believer that the people you surround yourself with, you become.”
Elsewhere, Pádraig Harrington finished the day on one-over, with Tom McKibbin further down the rankings after shooting three-over.
See the latest leaderboard here >
– Additional reporting by Press Association
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Dubai invitational Golf on fire Rory McIlroy Shane Lowry