Rory McIlroy at Omega Dubai Desert Classic 2016: Thursday Score and Reaction
Rory McIlroy mixed solid play with flashes of magic to post a four-under-par first-round score of 68 at the 2016 Omega Dubai Desert Classic on Thursday.
Despite a poor start, the Northern Irishman put himself firmly in contention after Day 1, as he carded six birdies and two bogeys at Emirates Golf Club.
Here is McIlroy's scorecard:
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| Par | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 37 |
| Score | 6 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 35 |
| Overall | +1 | +1 | +1 | E | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -2 | -2 |
| Par | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 72 |
| Score | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 68 |
| Overall | -2 | -1 | -2 | -2 | -3 | -4 | -4 | -4 | -4 | -4 |
Beginning on the 10th, McIlroy had to scramble just to make bogey on his first hole after struggling in a green-side bunker. He holed a fantastic putt for a six in the end to limit the damage, but it was far from the ideal start for the world No. 2.
He got his act together on the par-five 13th to claim the shot back, picking up a birdie after setting up an eagle chance with an outrageous approach shot around a tree.
McIlroy then went under par as he claimed another birdie on 14 with a solid eight-foot putt.
Things could have gone south on the 18th as the four-time major winner drove into the water, but a phenomenal approach shot after dropping set up a birdie chance which he duly took, per the European Tour:
Turning in 35—two under par—McIlroy parred the first before dropping a shot at the second. He followed a wayward tee shot with a poor pitch and could only hole out in five.
It did not take him long to claim the shot back, though, as he put his second shot on the par-five third to the fringe and got up and down for birdie.
McIlory then holed out well to pick up another on five and produced a moment of magic on six as he was inches from an eagle, per the European Tour:
It was far from a bravura display from McIlroy, and he never really seemed to get out of the low gears, but such is his immense quality that he managed to put himself in among the early leaders with three holes remaining.
He failed to make further gains but finished the day with a very competitive round of 68 and can put himself firmly in the mix for the weekend with another solid display on Friday.
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