Sports · Other Sports · 1 hr ago
McIlroy starts three under in bid to equal Race to Dubai record
Rory McIlroy opened with a three-under-par round at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
He is aiming for an eighth Race to Dubai title, which would match Scotland's Colin Montgomerie's record.
Joost Luiten leads after the first round at five under, leaving McIlroy two shots behind in a tie for third.
Spain's Eugenio Chacarra leads the season-long standings by 533.93 points over McIlroy, with 2,000 points available to this week's winner.
Only Chacarra and McIlroy can secure the title by winning the tournament; seven other players also remain in contention for the season-long award.
Chacarra opened at level par, while Patrick Reed, who is third in the standings, shot three over.
Three rounds remain this week at Jumeirah Golf Estates, where the tournament winner could change the Race to Dubai standings.
Rory McIlroy opened the DP World Tour Championship with a three-under-par round as he bids for a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title.
He is two shots behind first-round leader Joost Luiten, who shot five under par.
McIlroy’s round included five birdies and two bogeys in windy conditions.
Eugenio Chacarra, the Race to Dubai standings leader, opened with a level-par 72.
Nine players remain able to win the season-long title, but only Chacarra and McIlroy can guarantee it with victory this week.
- Who
- Rory McIlroy, the world number two and a six-time major winner.
- What
- He opened with a three-under-par round in the DP World Tour Championship. He is seeking his eighth Race to Dubai title, which would equal Colin Montgomerie’s record.
- When
- Thursday, 12 November 2026, during the first round.
- Where
- The DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
- Why
- McIlroy is competing for the Race to Dubai title and a chance to equal Montgomerie’s record of eight season-long crowns.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
McIlroy began the DP World Tour Championship’s opening round.
McIlroy birdied two of his first four holes, then gave a shot back at the fifth.
He birdied the seventh and 11th, took six at the par-five 14th and finished with a two-putt birdie.
McIlroy was three under, two shots behind leader Joost Luiten.
- McIlroy’s opening round
- Three under par
- Leader after first round
- Joost Luiten, five under par
- McIlroy’s position
- Joint third
- Race to Dubai points gap
- Chacarra led McIlroy by 533.93 points
- Points available to this week’s winner
- 2,000
- Record McIlroy is chasing
- Colin Montgomerie’s eight season-long titles
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What people are saying
I think it was a pretty fair score
The course set-up is a little more difficult than in previous years.
To get off to a solid start was very important.