Rory McIlroy insists the Race to Dubai title continues to be up for grabs regardless of taking management in his battle with Thriston Lawrence on the primary day of motion on the DP World Tour Championship.
McIlroy and Lawrence are in a head-to-head battle for the coveted crown and the heavily-favoured Northern Irishman, needing solely a top-11 end even when Lawrence takes the obligatory victory, loved a significantly better begin than his rival on Thursday, carding a five-under 67 to share the lead with Tyrrell Hatton.
Lawrence, in distinction, may solely handle a one-over begin to his match.
However McIlroy says he is not going to be letting his foot off the fuel, understanding Lawrence can bounce again.
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One of the best of McIlroy’s opening 67 in Dubai
“I want to go on from here and win the golf tournament,” mentioned McIlroy. “I’ve opened up with a very good rating however I have to exit and play equally over these subsequent three days, not simply to attempt to win the match but in addition to attempt to get the job performed within the Race to Dubai.
“I’m under no illusions that that was probably Thriston’s worst day. If he goes out and has three good ones, I still need to go out there and play some very solid golf.”
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McIlroy or Hatton the favorite in Dubai?
McIlroy solely had one bogey on his card on the opening day in Dubai and his spherical included a near-50-foot birdie putt on the seventeenth.
“I thought I did well,” he added to Sky Sports activities Golf. “The golf course is enjoying somewhat bit harder than it has performed in earlier years with how thick the tough is.
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McIlroy makes an enormous putt on the seventeenth
“So I thought I got my ball in play pretty well for the most part, but then when I didn’t I felt like I was pretty smart in getting it back in play, or if I was going for a green in two, missing it on the right side or giving myself enough room that I had a chance to get it up and down.
“I made some good pars across the center of the spherical when a few holes may have gotten away from me, after which I completed properly with the birdies on 14 and 17.”
Sky Sports activities Golf’s Paul McGinley, nevertheless, feels McIlroy has to enhance to complete 2024 together with his fourth victory of the season – notably up towards an in-form Hatton.
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Highlights from the primary spherical of DP World Tour Championship
“I thought Rory was okay. There were a couple of mistakes in there but that’s the quality of player he is, I don’t think he’s absolutely on his game.
“Nevertheless it was a superb end with the birdie on 17 and he is main the match regardless of me saying he is not on his sport.
“I think Tyrrell is the biggest threat to Rory, I’d put him as favourite at the moment. He played better than Rory today, he’s in a great vein of form, he’s played well in the desert in the past, and his golf game is super fantastic at this moment in time.
“He is the man to beat for my part, I actually do fee him that extremely.”
McIlroy: I want to live up to high standards
McIlroy also spoke to Sky Sports Golf about the high standards he is held to compared to other players, particularly on the DP World Tour. Asked if it bothers him, McIlroy said: “Relies upon what day it’s!”
But ultimately, McIlroy, who just missed out on a fifth major title after a disappointing final-round finish in June’s US Open, sees it as a positive and holds himself to the same sky-high standards.
“I feel general I’ve to take it as a praise,” he admitted.
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McIlroy displays on a yr of highs and lows
“It’s testament to the body of work that I’ve put in over the course of my 17- or 18-year career that I am held to such a high standard. And I want to live up to those standards too. It’s not just everyone else.
“I totally count on to show as much as tournaments and have an opportunity to win each time. I am beneath no illusions that I am not going to win each time, however with what number of probabilities I’ve given myself, particularly this yr, it appears like I in all probability ought to’ve gained a few extra instances.
“Saying that, if I go on and have another three good days here and end the year with a win, I’ll look back on 2024 pretty fondly.”
Who will win the Race to Dubai? Watch the DP World Tour Championship all through the week stay on Sky Sports activities? Stay protection continues on Friday from 7am on Sky Sports activities Golf. Stream the DP World Tour and extra with NOW.
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Author : admin
Publish date : 2024-11-24 03:34:47
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