Rory McIlroy lands first blow in pursuit of record-equalling Race to Dubai title
· Yahoo Sports
Rory McIlroy laid down an early marker in his pursuit of a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai crown, finishing strongly to sign for a three-under-par 69 at the DP World Tour Championship.
The Northern Irishman produced a magnificent fairway wood from 255 yards at the final hole to set up a 13-foot eagle attempt. Although he left the putt short, the resulting birdie capped a fine opening round.
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That late flourish lifted McIlroy into a share of third place, three strokes clear of playing partner Eugenio Chacarra. The Spaniard narrowly avoided serious damage on the 18th when his drive struck a rock near the creek, bouncing safely over the water to allow him to salvage a par five.
Despite sitting down in 23rd position after the opening day, the 26-year-old Spaniard still leads the projected seasonal standings, though he can ill afford to let his main rival gain much more ground.
On a testing, breezy day at the Earth Course, McIlroy ended the day two shots adrift of leader Joost Luiten. He was one of just two players among the top nine in the Race to Dubai rankings to break par in the challenging conditions.
McIlroy is firmly in the mix after the opening round (Getty)Jon Rahm, triumphant last week, was the other, shooting a one-under 71. Meanwhile, Patrick Reed’s ambitions took a severe blow after the American, third in the standings, carded a three-over 75 to end up down in 41st place.
It was a mixed round for McIlroy, who three-putted twice on the front nine despite making three birdies and a bogey.
He delivered when it mattered most at the last, capitalizing on the fact that Chacarra was unable to reach the green in two by hitting his approach onto the putting surface to secure a closing birdie.
"Very pleased. It was tricky, windier than it usually is and with the more punishing rough this week and cross winds, I felt I did well to hit fairways," said the world number two, who is bidding to match Colin Montgomerie’s haul of eight Order of Merit titles.
"Anything in the 60s today I felt was a good score. Held it together when I needed to and in a good position going into the rest of the week."
McIlroy can claim the season-long crown if he wins on Sunday, or if he finishes second provided neither Chacarra nor Reed takes victory.
McIlroy is hoping to hold off Eugenio Chacarra (Getty)Rahm retains an outside chance of a second Race to Dubai title if he wins the tournament and his fellow Spaniard finishes no higher than ninth, with McIlroy and Reed finishing third or lower.
Chacarra remains upbeat about his prospects, saying: "I’m playing good, the good’s good, I just need to be able to clean the card a little in the next couple of days."
The focus on the seasonal title race meant Luiten’s impressive five-under-par round went somewhat under the radar, bolstered by a front-nine 31 containing five birdies.
"I said to my caddie ‘We can only go up this week. We’re last man in, we’ve got nothing to lose, so let’s go for it’ and it worked out so far," said the Dutchman, who scraped into the field as the 50th and final qualifier.