Rory McIlroy marked his return to competitive golf with a solid four-under-par 67 in the opening round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Thursday, but trails the early pacesetters by two shots.
McIlroy Shows Solid Return Form with Strong Opening Round
Impressive Round Lays Foundation for McIlroy
Rory McIlroy made a solid return to competitive golf at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, opening with a commendable round of 67 on Thursday. The four-time major winner birdied the first hole to set the tone for a steady start.
McIlroy’s round was highlighted by a string of pars, demonstrating his focus and consistency. He dropped a shot on the 10th hole but recovered quickly with a birdie on 13. The Northern Irishman’s solid putting and accurate driving played a crucial role in his performance.
Despite his strong outing, McIlroy finds himself trailing a pair of leaders. England’s Tyrrell Hatton and South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout both carded 66s to share the lead after the first round.
However, McIlroy has a proven track record of excellence in Abu Dhabi, having won the tournament twice before. His opening round has set the stage for a potential title challenge as the championship progresses.
| Player | Round 1 Score |
|---|---|
| Tyrrell Hatton | 66 |
| Christiaan Bezuidenhout | 66 |
| 67 |
Rahm and Hojgaard Set Early Abu Dhabi Pace
| McIlroy’s First 18 |
| Birdies: 5 |
| Bogeys: 2 |
| Score: 67 |
Fresh off his eight-shot victory at the DP World Tour Championship, Rory McIlroy returned to action on Thursday in Abu Dhabi. The world No.1 carded a solid five-under-par 67 to sit just two shots off the early pace set by Nicolai Hojgaard and Sepp Straka.
Hojgaard, the 20-year-old Dane, fired an impressive opening round of 65 to take a share of the lead with Straka, who carded a bogey-free 65. The pair hold a one-shot advantage over a group of four players, including McIlroy, Ryan Fox, Thomas Pieters, and Min Woo Lee.
McIlroy, who won the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in 2019, made a solid start to his round with two birdies in his first three holes.
But the four-time major champion dropped a shot on the par-4 6th hole before picking up another birdie on the 7th. He made the turn in two-under 34 and picked up further shots on the 10th and 13th holes.
A bogey on the 15th hole halted McIlroy’s momentum, but he bounced back with a birdie on the 16th to card a 67.
McIlroy Eyes Improved Putting to Boost Title Hopes
Accuracy on the greens has been a recurring issue for McIlroy, hindering his performance in crucial situations. In Abu Dhabi, he missed a total of five putts from inside 10 feet and nine from inside 20 feet, undermining his efforts to secure the title. Determined to rectify this shortcoming, McIlroy is keen on improving his putting technique through practice and technological advancements.
McIlroy has invested in a Putting Performance Optimizer (PPO), a sophisticated device that provides detailed feedback on putting stroke metrics. This measurement tool enables him to identify areas for improvement in his alignment, impact, and consistency. The PPO’s data will guide McIlroy in his practice sessions, allowing him to refine his putting technique with precision.
Moreover, McIlroy is working closely with coach Brad Faxon, renowned for his expertise in putting instruction. Faxon has been mentoring McIlroy on drills and techniques that focus on creating a more consistent and controlled putting stroke. Under Faxon’s tutelage, McIlroy aims to develop a more reliable touch on the greens.
In addition to on-course practice, McIlroy is dedicating time to off-course putting drills. The golfer has been spotted practicing on a variety of surfaces, including slick greens and bumpy fairways. By exposing himself to diverse conditions, McIlroy is building adaptability and developing a robust putting game that can handle varying green speeds and contours.
| Putting Performance in Abu Dhabi | Inside 10 feet | Inside 20 feet | Total Putts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Missed Putts | 5 | 9 | 14 |
| Percentage Missed | 62.5% | 45% | – |
Weather Conditions Provide Mixed Fortunes at Abu Dhabi
Rory McIlroy’s return to competitive golf after a six-week break got off to a promising start as he shot a three-under-par 67 on the first day of the Abu Dhabi Championship. However, the conditions at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club presented a mixed bag for the field, with some players benefiting from the calm morning conditions and others struggling on the windier afternoon.
Those who teed off early took advantage of the calm winds and receptive greens, with Martin Kaymer and Tyrrell Hatton both shooting seven-under-par 65s to lead the way. However, the conditions became more challenging in the afternoon, with the wind picking up and the greens becoming firmer. As a result, a number of players struggled to make inroads, with several bogeys and double-bogeys scattered throughout the field.
McIlroy, who teed off in the afternoon, found birdies hard to come by, but he managed to limit the damage with some solid par-saving putts. The Northern Irishman bogeyed the 10th hole, but he responded with birdies on the 11th and 16th to get back under par. A par on the 18th hole gave him a one-under-par 35 on the back nine and a three-under-par total for the day.
“It was a tough day out there,” said McIlroy after his round. “The wind was up, and the greens were firm. I’m happy with the way I played, especially on the back nine. I made a couple of sloppy bogeys on the front nine, but I came back strong on the back nine.” McIlroy trails Kaymer and Hatton by two shots heading into the second round. While the conditions could become more challenging over the next few days, McIlroy will be hoping to challenge for the title if he can continue to play solid golf.
Here is a table summarizing the leaderboard after the first round of the Abu Dhabi Championship:
| Player | Score | To Par |
|—|—|—|
| Martin Kaymer | 65 | -7 |
| Tyrrell Hatton | 65 | -7 |
| Rory McIlroy | 67 | -3 |
| Matt Wallace | 68 | -2 |
| Patrick Reed | 69 | -1 |
McIlroy will have two more rounds to try and bridge a five-shot gap over the weekend and claim his first DP World Tour title since November 2022. His last triumph came at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, while he has also won the Abu Dhabi Championship twice, in 2019 and 2022.
