…. Jumeirah Estates, Dubai
While Rory McIroy is taking the war of words seemingly single-handedly to LIV Golf, he continues to show a respectful side to many of those who joined the breakaway tour.
One of those was Spain’s Adrian Otaegui, who was drawn to compete alongside the World No. 1 on day two of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
And strangely in finishing tied at five-under the pair will be out on day three here in Dubai.
Their day two pairing brought suggestions of how will McIlroy treat the player who created golfing history becoming the first LIV Golf to win on the DP World Tour with his stunning success in the recent Andalucía Masters, bringing the tight tree-lined course to its knees, winning by six shots with a remarkable 19-under victory total.
Rory McIlroy and Adrian Otaegui shake hands following their second round in Dubai. (Photo – Getty)
No, it was all the proper pleasantries on the first tee of the Earth course with handshakes all round along and then the quintessential small talk for much of the round.
McIlroy sensationally stole the show finishing birdie, birdie and a soaring eagle ‘3’ at the last minute in signing for a score of 68 and head to day three sharing 11th place at five-under.
The Spaniard, and lost in McIroy’s heroics at last, had sensationally himself kick-started his second day holing a 180-yard second shot for an eagle ‘2’ at the very first hole, and ending also with a 68 and also to be tied at five-under.
It was an effort that McIlroy celebrated sharing a high-5 with the Spaniard as did Otaegui did after McIlroy’s effort at the last.
And guess what? They’re out together on day three of the US$10m event.
McIlroy spoke with reporters after his round playing about playing alongside the golfer to create LIV Golf history.
“Look, I’ve known Adrian for a long time and it was all fine,” McIlroy said. “He deserves to be here because he is in the top 50 on the Tour’s standings and to shoot 19-under at Valderrama [at last month’s Andalucía Master] was incredible.”
However, it was not all that serious when McIlroy was a smiling journalist asked him if he was determined not to “lose” to Otaegui.
“No,” he said. “But you never want to get beat by any of your playing partners. I didn’t think of anything like that out there. My goal was just to get back into some sort of contention going into the weekend and that was needed with Fitz doing so well and making this anything but easy.
