Five-time Race to Dubai winner Rory McIlroy plays his opening round of the DP World Tour Championship with 2023 Masters Champion Jon Rahm

Rory McIlroy started with an opening par before he hooked his drive at the par five second but managed to escape with a par. Jon Rahm reached one under after an up and down for birdie at the second hole. McIlroy hit his drive 354 yards at the third hole, a great wedge shot from 111 yards and rolled in the putt for birdie. On the same hole Rahm also had an opportunity for birdie which he missed. They both achieved a par at the par three fourth and both found the fairway at the par four fifth. McIlroy was closer to the hole and made a great putt for birdie as Rahm only managed a par.

McIlroy missed the fairway at the par five seventh but Rahm was in perfect shape. Rahm came up short and failed to get up and down for birdie. McIlroy played a great chip shot from right of the green and reached three under after holing his birdie putt. McIlroy hit his drive 350 yards at the par four eight which ran out of fairway but still managed to reach the green in two. Rahm missed the fairway and green at the eight which ended up in a bogey. McIlroy had around 80 feet for his birdie putt and had to settle for a three-putt bogey.

The usually difficult par four ninth was playing easier today due to the breeze which Rahm took advantage of with his drive but McIlroy hit another tee shot to the left. The Northern Irishman played a great left to right shot which ended up short of the green and scrambled a par. Rahm hit a great second shot and finished the front nine with an excellent birdie. McIlroy hit his drive 340 yards at the 10th hole and hit his second shot to six feet. Both McIlroy and Rahm started the back nine in style with a pair of birdies. Both players achieved a par at the par four 11th hole.

On the par four 12th McIlroy hit his drive 324 yards but was outdriven by a 333 yard tee shot from Rahm. McIlroy hit a poor second shot which missed the green and failed to get up and down for a par. Rahm set up a good birdie opportunity which he wouldn’t take advantage of. The 13th par three played 211 yards today, McIlroy hit a seven iron but yet again missed the target. McIlroy was short sided and unsuccessful in saving a par. Rahm was able to achieve a par at the par three 13th hole.

Both players made a mess of the par five 14th with McIlroy playing a hook shot out of a bunker and salvaged a good two putt par. Rahm hit a nine iron from 182 yards for his third shot which came up short but his up & down for par was incredible. McIlroy and Rahm both hit driver on the par four 15th and were both near the green in one shot. McIlroy played a excellent chip shot from 66 yards and rolled in the birdie putt to reach two under. Rahm played his chip shot out of the rough and had no control which ended deeper in the green and settled for a frustrating par.

McIlroy made a mistake with his tee shot at the 16th with hitting driver and found the water. Only three birdies were made today at the 16th and McIlroy went back to one under after a bogey five. Rahm found the fairway at the 16th and also found the green with successfully two putting for a par. The 17th at the Earth Course is a 203 yard par three over water and both players had to hit their tee shot into a strong wind. Both players ended up in the greenside bunker Rahm missed his par putt where as McIlroy scrambled a par.

The 18th par five played 651 yards on day one. McIlroy’s tee shot hit the rocks and was extremely lucky to avoid the water. Rahm hit his tee shot on the fairway at the final hole. The drama continued as McIlroy’s second shot landed in the water but carried onto the bridge and ended up in the penalty area. Rahm made a mess of a lay up as he found the water with his second shot. McIlroy hit his third shot and ended up at the front of the green.

It was incredible that McIlroy achieved a par at the 18th considering he nearly went into the water twice. Rahm made a bogey and signed for an opening even par round. This is Rahm’s 17th round at the Earth Course and this round was the first time he didn’t finish under par. McIlroy ended up with an opening round of one under.

Both players are still in contention as only five under is winning after day one. A good start for both players considering they haven’t played much since the 2023 Ryder Cup in September. The rust will disappear after the first round’s play and both players will get better as the tournament goes on.