DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Rory McIlroy began the opening spherical of the Dubai Desert Basic on Thursday with a 1-over 73 and a double-bogey 7, eight strokes behind clubhouse chief Francesco Molinari.
Enjoying the 18th gap because the ninth gap of the spherical, McIlroy’s chip method to his third shot was thrown in need of the inexperienced and rolled again into the water. After receiving the penalty, McIlroy remained 6 ft from the pin on his subsequent method, requiring a two-putt.
McIlroy’s enjoying accomplice Tommy Fleetwood additionally dropped a shot on the 18th after bogeying the 14th and sixteenth. World No. 2 and No. 3 each performed 73 playing cards.
Tyrrell Hatton, the third member of a proficient group of Ryder Cup winners, began his Dubai title protection with a two-under 70 at Emirates Golf Membership. Fellow Ryder Cup teammate Shane Lowry was additionally 2 beneath.
Molinari had eight birdies, together with 4 in his first 5 holes, beginning with the tenth gap, and shot a 7-under 65. He completed the spherical with three consecutive birdies.
Michael Lindberg moved into second place with a 5-under 67, two strokes behind, and Joel Garback was alone within the clubhouse in third place with 4 beneath.
The three-under group of gamers included Wenyi Ding, 21, a former Arizona State College scholar from China.
