Rory McIlroy stumbles down the stretch to open Hero Dubai Desert Classic
Defending champion Rory McIlroy was cruising on his opening nine, parading around the Majlis Course at the Emirates Golf Club as if he owned the place.
Having started on the back nine, McIlroy carded four birdies, made zero bogeys, and made the turn at 4-under. He was in control and even held a share of the lead.
But then he quickly dropped a shot at the par-4 1st hole, making a bogey after air-mailing the green. He caught a flier-lie out of the rough, as missing the fairway proved costly.
Defending Champion Rory mroy was cruising on his opening nine parading around the matless course at the Emirates Golf Club as if he owned the place having started on the back nine mroy carded for birdies made zero bogeys and made the turn at four under he was
In control and even held a share of the lead but then he quickly dropped a shot at the par for first hole making a bogey after air mailing the green he caught a flyer Li out of the rough as missing the Fairway proved costly and then in true
Mroy fashion he bounced back with a birdie at the par for second after driving the green that was his last birdie of the day as his troubles began at the par for six maoy smashed a drive down the middle of the Fairway then hit his second shot safely on the green of
The tough for eight for yard Par Four he proceeded to three putt from 35 ft dropping him back to three under at least his three whack was not from defeat which cost him dearly at last week’s Dubai Invitational melroy’s short game failed him again on the next hole
The par 37th after missing his T shot short of the green the northern Irishman hit a poor chip thus leading to another bogey he could not get off the bogey train at the par for8 as another lousy chip led to another dropped shot suddenly mroy sat at under four shots
Off the lead the northern Irishman finished his round with a par on the tricky par for ninth but he was lucky to avoid another bogey after hitting his te shot Into the Bunker to the right of the Fairway mroy hit his second shot to the right of the green he faced another
Tricky Chip Shot but this time the four-time major winner knocked it to four feet and tapped it in for a one under 71 nevertheless mroy will have his work cut out out to get back into contention I think it’s going to be tough the next few days said Nikolai
Hagard melroy’s playing partner who carded a 4 under 68 Thursday the greens still have a soft side in certain places but the rough is up It’s Tricky it gets a bit windy out there and with a few dog legs it’s tough to hold the fairways it’s playing the way it should be
Cameron Young howong Lee Andy Sullivan and Rasmus hagard lead at 5 under after round one mroy meanwhile sits alongside Brian Harmon Luke Donald and a slew of others at one under
