Rory McIlroy effortlessly eased his way closer to a sixth Race to Dubai title in posting a five-under-par-67 at the DP World Tour season finale in Dubai.
McIlroy capped his round holing a stunning 48-footer for a sixth birdie of his day at the par-3 17th to join England’s Tyrrell Hatton in the lead at five-under in the $10m event at the Jumeirah Estates resort.
Moments earlier McIlroy was spotted sitting atop of a 17th hole tee-marker due to some slow play and casually munching on an energy bar.
THIS PUTT NEEDED A PASSPORT ….
Moments after muching on an energy bar & @McIlroyRory does this – a 4⃣8⃣ footer @Jumeirah
Rors now just three rounds shy a lifting a 6⃣th Harry Vardon
Read: https://t.co/nSKxJErIRQ
— Golf & Science News (@TOURMISS) November 14, 2024
Paul Waring, and last week’s surpise Abu Dhabi HSBC champ posted a 68 to be third while South African Thriston Lawrence, and the only player who can deny McIlroy this week struggled under the weight of four birdies but also five bogeys in a one-over 73.
Lawrence shares 37th place in the 50-player field and needs to win and McIlroy to finish no lower than 11th to deny the World No. 3 the Harry Vardon Trophy.
However on day one of the final event of the season, it’s McIlroy in the box seat to match the record of the late, great Seve Ballesteros .
“I want to go on from here and win the golf tournament”, said McIlroy. “I’ve opened up with a really good score but I need to go out and play similarly over these next three days, not just to try to win the tournament but also to try to get the job done in 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 one, I still need to go out there and play some very solid golf”.
McIlroy’s round is that more impressive as for five rounds in a row he’s now been inside the ropes, he’s been working oin his swing.
“I think just a little bit more consistency”, said McIlroy. “My start lines will come in a little bit, so even my misses will become a little bit better. I had a criticism of my game over the past 18 months is that the misses had become a little too wide, and they were getting me into trouble.
“Again, we are not going to hit perfect golf shots all the time but if you can minimize the misses and make sure that they are not destructive, that’s always a good thing”.
