Rory McIlroy made his competitive debut with a new swing at the Abu Dhabi Championship, shooting a solid 5-under 67 in the first round. The No. 3-ranked golfer expressed mixed feelings about his performance, describing his play as fine but lacking imagination.
McIlroy, who took a month-long break to work on his swing, showcased a more robust technique aimed at handling pressure situations. Despite a minor hiccup on the par-3 17th hole resulting in his only bogey, McIlroy managed to card six birdies, finishing with a tap-in birdie on the last hole.
Reflecting on his round, McIlroy acknowledged feeling comfortable with his new pre-shot routine but admitted to hitting mostly straight shots, indicating a lack of creativity in his play. He attributed this to overthinking his swing mechanics rather than focusing on shot shaping.
The favorable playing conditions at Yas Links, characterized by calm winds and generous fairways, played to McIlroy's advantage, allowing him to concentrate on implementing his modified swing effectively.
Meanwhile, Ryder Cup teammate Tommy Fleetwood surged into the lead with a remarkable 10-under 62, highlighted by eight birdies and an eagle. Fleetwood's stellar performance positioned him ahead of Thorbjorn Olesen and Johannes Veerman, who trailed by a stroke.
McIlroy, currently holding a substantial lead in the Race to Dubai standings, aims to secure his sixth year-long Race to Dubai title with a victory in Abu Dhabi. Such an achievement would potentially diminish the suspense leading into the season-ending World Tour Championship in Dubai next week.
With five European No. 1 finishes to his name, McIlroy eyes a sixth title to match the legendary Seve Ballesteros, while Colin Montgomerie holds the record with eight.
Overall, McIlroy's performance in Abu Dhabi sets the stage for an intriguing battle for both the tournament victory and the prestigious Race to Dubai title.
