McIlroy strengthens Race to Dubai position after opening 66 in Dubai

Rory McIlroy continued his seemingly inexorable march towards his seventh Race to Dubai crown by opening with a facile six-under 66 in the DP World Tour Championship.

He appears to be getting better all the time, and while improving on such innate talent takes a special kind of drive, as Leona Maguire showed when opening with a fine 67 in The ANNIKA last night, the work never stops for the game’s elite.

The Holywood star got a front row seat as his nearest rival, Marco Penge, shot a 74 that all but dashed his chances of winning the Harry Vardon Trophy.

That he didn’t appear to get even close to top gear at Jumeirah Golf Estates and felt he “left a few out there” does not bode well for the pretenders to McIlroy’s  European crown, including Shane Lowry, who was tied for ninth after a 68.

McIlroy was tied for third with England’s Andy Sullivan and South Africa’s Thriston Laurence,  just two shots behind American Michael Kim, who shot 64 to lead by one from the in-form Tommy Fleetwood. 

Though he was loath to agree that his name now appears to have no weaknesses, he knows he’s close to unbeatable when his wedge play and putting clicks.

“I think when my game’s on, it feels that way,” he said. “I definitely feel like I've made big strides and those two departments of the game over the last few years.”

Elevating his game is one thing, but being elevated with a knighthood —rumoured to be in the offing since he won the Masters —is something else.

“If that were ever to happen, it would be an unbelievably massive honour,” said McIlroy, who was made an MBE in 2012.

“That's obviously up to people a lot more powerful and important than me. But I mean, if it were to happen one day, it would be a very proud moment of my life.”

As for Lowry, a four-under 68 had him eyeing his first individual win since the 2022 BMW PGA.

“The only thing I didn't do so far this season is win,” Europe’s Ryder Cup hero said. “I’ve got one more chance this week.

“Look, no matter what happens this week, I'll sit there at Christmas and I'll have my Ryder Cup trophy on the table and I think it will be a pretty nice year.

"But a win this week would definitely be the icing on the cake.”

Tom McKibbin, meanwhile, carded a two-under 70 to share 22nd place alongsideTyrrell Hatton, who is the only other player who can deny McIlroy the Race to Dubai.

There’s a week to go before the LPGA’s CME Group Tour Championship, and Co. Cavan star Maguire is looking to head there with her game in fine fettle.

She’s 56th in the rankings with the top 60 qualifying, and she was pleased with a three-under 67 at The ANNIKA that left her just three strokes behind early leader Haeran Ryu of Korea at Pelican Golf Club.

While it hasn’t been a great season, she spent last week working in Orlando with coach Shane O’Grady, and it paid off as she made five birdies and missed only four greens.

“I just played really solid, especially on the back nine,” Maguire said after coming home in three under. “Gave myself a lot of chances. Gave myself some good chances on the front, but kept leaving myself above the pin.

“Just trying to finish as strong as possible, try and get myself into this week and to have a go at next week as well.”

She had chances on the last three greens to go even lower, but after seeing her coach, she feels better about her game following a poor showing during the recent Asian swing.

“We really worked hard on my approach play,” she explained. “It hadn't been good enough in Asia. Not giving myself enough chances. So it was nice to see that come together a bit more today.

“It would've been nice to hole a few more putts, but I kept giving myself chances.”

Meanwhile, Seamus Power birdied the last to card a two-under 69 that left him just four shots behind clubhouse leader Adam Hadwin in the windy Butterfield Bermuda Championship.

Ranked 133rd in the FedExCup Fall standings, he needs to contend to win over the last two weeks to boost his playing opportunities next year with only the top 100 fully exempt next season.

Power was tied for 13th place and projected to move to 130th when play was suspended last night.

A second place finish would catapult him into the top 100. while a top 10 would likely push him into the top 125.

“Obviously top 100, but there's a cut off of 10 as well and cut off at 25 and cut off at 50,” Power said of his situation on the eve of the event.

“It's unusual. I'm not really one to look too much at it, but I do know I've got to pick up a good chunk of points.”