Rory McIlroy, a four-time major champion, fired a nine-under 63 at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship on Friday after a two-shot penalty for a rules violation on Thursday. His round, featuring 11 birdies over his final 17 holes, moved him to 11 under for the tournament, placing him one shot behind co-leaders Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton.
McIlroy received the penalty after the opening round for improving his lie on the 12th hole, which turned a double bogey into a quadruple bogey and his score from 68 to 70. Despite the setback, he chose to accept the ruling, stating he didn’t dwell on it
and that he would much rather be two shots worse off than be called a cheat
.
McIlroy’s Response to the Rules Controversy
In his post-round press conference, McIlroy reiterated his belief that he did not commit a violation but acknowledged the video evidence didn’t look good
. He said he made peace with it
before leaving the course on Thursday to avoid the perception of getting away with something
. He added that accepting the penalty gave him a clear conscience
to play freely on Friday.
A Comeback Fueled by Resilience
McIlroy’s second round began with more adversity as he was forced to take an unplayable lie, leading to an opening bogey. However, he quickly responded with a strong performance. Yesterday was yesterday, and today’s a new day
, McIlroy said, explaining how he managed to get it going
and play his way back into the tournament
. His 11 birdies over the final 17 holes showcased his ability to bounce back from challenges.
What Remains Unknown
Additionally, it remains unclear how the penalty will impact his chances of winning the Race to Dubai title. The tournament continues, and McIlroy’s focus will be on maintaining his momentum in the coming days. Source
Rory McIlroy has been assessed a two-shot penalty for improving his lie on 12 during round one in Abu Dhabi. His double bogey on the par 4 changes to a quadruple bogey and overall score from 68 to 70 (T-33). Here is the sequence where it occurred ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/CsJT1gFYht
Earlier coverage: Rory McIlroy takes clubhouse lead at Abu Dhabi Championship with 63
More on Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship
"I'd much rather be two shots worse off than be called a cheat" – Rory McIlroy on his two-stroke penalty for improving his lie on day one of the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship 👏 pic.twitter.com/rPp2dVgaf8
