Business as usual for McIlroy in Dubai

Rory McIlroy in action at Dubai Creek. Picture: Getty Images

Rory McIlroy swapped his blades for a new set of cavity-back irons but it was business as usual as the Masters champion raced into the first round lead at the Dubai Invitational.

The world number two insisted afterwards that he remains as ambitious as ever after his historic 2025 season, and he showed he means business again this term by rolling in seven birdies in a five-under 66 to lead by a shot from Scotland’s Connor Syme and Spain’s David Puig.

As Shane Lowry endured a sloppy finish at Dubai Creek and bogeyed two of his last four holes for a 69 that left him tied for ninth with the likes of Tommy Fleetwood, McIlroy raced to the turn in five-under 31 before coming home in a pedestrian level par in windier back nine conditions.

It was still an impressive start to 2026 for the Holywood star, who is starting the season without a set of blades in his bag for the first time.

“If there's help to be had, I'll definitely take it,” he said of his decision to play with the new clubs.

He got off to a fast start as he birdied the 10th and 11th, three-putted the 12th, but then birdied the 13th, 14th, 17th and 18th to turn in 31.

He birdied the first from 12 feet to extend his lead but surprisingly took four to get down from a greenside bunker at the 331-yard third and failed to birdie the par-five fourth.

“Yeah, it was good,” he said. “I got off to a great start, played a very good first nine. And then the wind got up a little bit and felt like that front nine, which was our second nine, was the trickier one.

“And made a silly bogey on three, and then didn't capitalise on the par-five after that. So I felt like I left a few out on that side, but I played a really good nine holes of golf. Overall, a nice way to start the year.”

Despite becoming just the sixth player to complete the career Grand Slam last year, McIlroy (36) remains as ambitious as ever.

“I like the work,” McIlroy said. “I like the process. I enjoy doing challenging things. And I think if you can make that the important part, and you just make that routine, then you don't need motivation to do it.”

Lowry admitted that trying to keep pace with close friend McIlroy is only good for his game and while he got to within a shot of the Co Down with six holes to go, missed fairways and greens at the sixth and seventh led to back-to-back bogeys.

“First round of the year, you're kind of not really sure what to expect,” Lowry said. “I had a bad finish. But I played nice. I hit the ball well.”

He’s keen to contend for major glory again in 2026 and believes being close to McIlroy can only help him.

“I don't know, just the desire to be better and win more and do better,” he said of what fuels his desire to improve. “And I think a lot comes from people you hang around.

“I'm very fortunate that Rory is a good friend, and to see what he's achieved. I'm not stupid enough to think I'm going to win a Grand Slam or anything, but I look at him, and he's a great kind of person for me to reach towards.

“I always say if I can get even close to him in every tournament and do well coming in, I can have a chance to win.

“I'm a firm believer that the people you surround yourself with, you kind of become.”

It was a tougher day for Pádraig Harrington, who was 32nd after a one-over 72 and for Tom McKibbin, who started with nine pars but then mixed two birdies with three bogeys and a double bogey to card a 74 that left him joint 45th.

66 R McIlroy (NIR),

67 C Syme (SCO), D Puig (ESP),

68 M Wallace (ENG), O Lindell (FIN), J Guerrier (FRA), A Ayora (ESP), A Rozner (FRA),

69 P Larrazábal (ESP), J Schaper (RSA), E Chacarra (ESP), T Fleetwood (ENG), P Reed (USA), M Armitage (ENG), T Lawrence (RSA), D Hillier (NZL), S Lowry (IRL), N Elvira (ESP),

70 Y Katsuragawa (JPN), R Johnston (USA), D Bradbury (ENG), D Frittelli (RSA), J Kruyswijk (RSA), D Willett (ENG), C Hill (SCO),

71 F Lacroix (FRA), F Molinari (ITA), J Lagergren (SWE), R Neergaard-Petersen (DEN), M Manassero (ITA), G Forrest (SCO),

72 S Norris (RSA), M Couvra (FRA), G Migliozzi (ITA), R Fox (NZL), E Ferguson (SCO), A Hidalgo (ESP), J Luiten (NED), P Waring (ENG), P Harrington (IRL), M Siem (GER),

73 A Sullivan (ENG), T Olesen (DEN), J Lee (KOR),

74 D Gavins (ENG), N Højgaard (DEN), T McKibbin (NIR), D Van Driel (NED), R Hoshino (JPN), A Wu (CHN),

75 D Naidoo (RSA), J Veerman (USA), A Otaegui (UAE), N Von Dellingshausen (GER), D Ravetto (FRA),

76 A Del Rey (ESP), N Norgaard (DEN),

78 J Olesen (DEN),

80 O Strydom (RSA),

** OUT: R Mansell (ENG),