Rory McIlroy made a dream start to the DP World Tour Championship, taking a share of the lead after the opening round in Dubai. (More Sports News)
The Northern Irishman, a two-time winner at the event, holds a 1,758-point lead over Thriston Lawrence 🌃;and needs to finish 11th or higher to guarantee top spot in the season-long standings for the thi𒁃rd successive year.
He carded a five-under 67 in the first round, improving on his mixed result꧋s on the first nine to finish with six birdies and a lone bog𝄹ey.
A brilliant long putt on the 17th topped off his impressive performance, giving him a share of the early advantage with Tyrrell Hatton, wh🃏o held onto the lead by making par on🃏 the 18th.
Speaking to Sky Sports after his final round, McIlroy was asked if it 🧔bothered him that the media holds him to a higꦜher standard during big events.
"Depends what day it is!" he said. "I think📖 overall I have to take it as a complim♔ent.
"It's a testament to the body of work that I've put in over the course of my 17 or 18-year career that I am held to such a high standard. And I want to live up to those standards too. It's not just e𓃲veryone else. I fully expect to turn up to tournaments and have a chance to win every time. I'm under no illusions that I'm 🔥not going to win every time.
"But with how many chances I've given myself, especially this year, it feels like I probably should've won a couple of more times. But saying that, if I go on and have 🐬another three good days here and end the year with a🏅 win, I'll look back on 2024 pretty fondly.
"I thouജght I did well [on Thursday]. The golf course is playing a little bit tougher than it has done in previous years with how thick the rough is. I made some nice pars around the middle of the round when a couple of holes could h🍎ave got away from me, and then I finished well with the birdies on 14 and 17."
Last week's Abu Dhabi Championꦫship winner, P🎃aul Waring, sits one shot back in third, while Billy Horschel and Adam Scott are among those to card a three-under 69.
Meanwhile, Lawrence, the only player 🐭who could catch McIlroy in the Race to Dubai, strug𒀰gled on Thursday and sits six back after he finished one over on 73.
