Rory McIlroy drops three shots in arow to shoot an opening round of 71

Rory McIlroy has good memories of Majlis Golf Course as he won Dubai Desert Classic in 2023. McIlroy played his opening round of 2024 Dubai Desert Classic with Adam Scott and Nicolai Hoejgaard. The four-time major champion started on the back nine and opened up with a birdie. McIlroy continued to take advantage of the par fives as a two-putt was good enough to reach two under at the 13th hole.

McIlroy achieved a par at both the 14th and 15th hole to remain on two under. The Northern Irishman made short work of the par four 16th with a big tee shot, a great iron shot and held a birdie putt to reach three under. The reachable par four 17th hole played 341 yards on day one and McIlroy’s tee shot came to rest right of the green. The five time Race to Dubai winner played an exceptional chip shot but missed his birdie putt at the 17th.

McIlroy was able to hit six iron for his second shot at the par five 18th hole due to another long drive. The Northern Irishman rolled in a short-range birdie putt to shoot a front nine of four under. McIlroy had 121 yards for his second shot at his 10th hole which came up short and missed a five footer for par. The four-time major winner incredibly found the 357 yard par four second hole in one shot and managed to roll in his birdie putt.

The Northern Irishman was unsuccessful in achieving a birdie at the 601 yard par five third hole. McIlroy missed the green at the par three fourth hole but successfully got up and down for par. At McIlroy’s 15th hole he had 156 yards for his second shot which found the green but nowhere near the hole. His birdie putt came up short and missed a four footer for par.

The Northern Irishman made an error as he missed the green in the wrong spot at 173 yard par three seventh and failed to achieve a par. McIlroy went back to one under after a third bogey in a row at his 17th hole. McIlroy’s final hole was the ninth and his second shot ended up right of the green. The Down native was successful in getting up and down to finish with a par.

McIlroy shot an opening round of 71 and is four shots behind the lead. A game of two halves for the Northern Irishman, a good front nine and a bad back nine. McIlroy will be looking to have an error free round on day two and get closer to the lead. McIlroy still has a great chance to make it four Dubai Desert Classic wins over the weekend. McIlroy has three more rounds to get familiar with his new TaylorMade QI 10 LS Driver. Hope you enjoy McIlroy’s rounds over the weekend.