- The Northern Irishman holds a two-shot advantage with Joachim Hansen, Tapio Pulkkanen and Christiaan Bezuidenhout tied second
- Race to Dubai leader Collin Morikawa sits tied fifth on 68, three-shots behind.
- The tournament to host its first Ladies Day tomorrow with free tickets still available
Dubai, UAE, 18 November 2021:Rory McIlroy made a stunning start to take a two-shot lead as the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai got underway at the Jumeirah Golf Estates on Thursday.
The Race to Dubai’s top-50 players took to the Earth Course for the final Rolex Series event of the season where they will compete for a share of the USD $9million prize pot and the chance to be crowned European Number One.
Among those to impress was McIlroy, who has previously won this event twice before. The Northern Irishman struck an eagle on the second and made four of his six birdies in the first nine on route to 65. He closed with a birdie on the 18th with his only blemish being a bogey on the 9th.
Denmark’s Joachim Hansen, who came into the tournament on the back of last week’s Aviv Dubai Championship victory, continued his impressive form with six birdies to card 67. He is tied second alongside Finland’s Tapio Pulkkanen, who eagled his final hole and South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout.
Race to Dubai leader Collin Morikawa, who can make history by becoming the first American to win the title, is tied fifth after carding 68. His round included six birdies and two bogeys.
Germany’s Martin Kaymer, also sitting two shots back, had a mixed day, making eight birdies and four bogies.
After his round, McIlroy said his familiarity with the Earth Course was an advantage. He said: “I got a lot of experience around this place and a lot of great memories and memories of great shots and putts. If you can carry the ball over 300 on this course it makes it a lot easier and get it over the fairway bunkers and the landing areas have become that much wider. It’s an advantage and have been able to use this advantage for the last few years.”
As well as watching the stars in action, there will be plenty of entertainment off the course at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.
For the first time in its history, the tournament will host its first Ladies Day on Friday, 19th November. Throughout the day, there will be wide array of activities including a special ladies golf clinic at 1.30pm and 3.30pm and an opportunity to win some exclusive prizes.
Free admission tickets are still available here for the Rolex Series tournament with a packed entertainment schedule for every spectator to enjoy.
Play on Friday begins at 8.15am and fans can watch the action from Jumeirah Golf Estates live on the official European Tour’s YouTube channel here.
About the European Tour’s Race to Dubai
The Race to Dubai is the season-long competition to crown the European Tour’s Number One player. Celebrating the global connectivity of Dubai and the European Tour, the list of champions since 2009 reads like a Who’s Who of modern-era greats, including multiple titles for Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson and Lee Westwood. Other winners include Jon Rahm, Francesco Molinari, Tommy Fleetwood, Martin Kaymer, and Luke Donald. Formerly known as the Order of Merit, points are accumulated based on a tournament points system with the winner awarded the prestigious Race to Dubai trophy at the conclusion of the DP World Tour Championship.
About the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai
The highest ranked players on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai are invited to contest the final event of the season, the US$9million DP World Tour Championship, Dubai – a Rolex Series event. Staged at Jumeirah Golf Estates, the warm weather conditions are perfect for both players and spectators. The Greg Norman-designed Earth course has a reputation for delivering dramatic finales and providing a stage for the biggest stars to shine. Double winners Matt Fitzpatrick, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Henrik Stenson head a list of champions since its 2009 launch also including Danny Willett and Lee Westwood.
About the European Tour
The European Tour is ‘Driving Golf Further’ through our guiding principles of being innovative, inclusive and global.
Innovative: The European Tour is driving innovation in golf through the creation of award-winning content, pioneering tournament formats and the use of the latest technology and inventive fan engagement. We have recognised the need for golf to modernise for future fans and we are committed to engaging new audiences whilst respecting the tradition of our sport.
Inclusive: We are committed to include all who share a love for the game of golf. We are passionate about a closer collaboration with the women’s game, disability golf and promoting the health benefits of playing golf.
Global: Since the European Tour was formed in 1972, players from 36 different countries have won tournaments, while our live broadcast reaches more than 490 million homes in more than 150 countries every week, generating in excess of 2,200 global broadcast hours for each event. We also enjoy the support of many of the world’s leading business brands with Rolex, BMW, Callaway, DP World, Emirates, Workday and Zoom as Official Partners.
The European Tour also manages the developmental Challenge Tour and the Legends Tour (formerly known as the Staysure Tour) which is the men’s professional golf tour for members aged 50 and older.
The European Tour is also the Managing Partner of Ryder Cup Europe, the body which, alongside the PGA of America, administers golf’s greatest team contest, the Ryder Cup.
About the Rolex Series
The Rolex Series is the premium event category on the European Tour’s International Schedule, comprising four tournaments in 2021, staged in a variety of world-class golfing locations each with a minimum prize fund of US$8 million and 8,000 Race to Dubai points available.
Showcasing innovation, enriched media, content and broadcast coverage, and a superior event experience for the world’s top players, the list of champions includes some of golf’s most distinguished names.
The Rolex Series was launched in 2017, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of Rolex’s enduring partnership with the European Tour.
In 2021, the Rolex Series comprises; The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship (January 21-24), the Abdn Scottish Open (July 8-11) the BMW PGA Championship (September 9-12) and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai (November 18-21), where the leading golfer on the Race to Dubai Rankings in partnership Rolex will be crowned.