Rory McIlroy Shines in the First Round of Desert Classic
Rory McIlroy proved yesterday that the issues that plagued his game last year are well and truly behind him. Shooting an incredible 63 during the first day of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
The round, which included seven birdies and an eagle for the Nike player, was McIlroy’s lowest in more than three years. A performance even his playing partners were impressed with.
“Tiger hit some great shots and I played pretty good but Rory, well, his golf was just sublime,” said last year’s winner Stephen Gallacher.
With Tiger Woods adding, “He's playing better, he's playing a lot better. He has that combination between the ball and the driver. He was struggling with that a lot last year.”
As for McIlroy he was more than happy with his first round but remains eager to stay consistent while continuing to improve areas of his game.
“If I finish second in every tournament from now until the end of the year, I would be world No1 but I wouldn't be happy because I wouldn't have won,” McIlroy said yesterday.
“It's a goal to get back there but I have a few more important goals to concentrate on that aren't anything to do with results or anything to do with tournaments or wins. They are to do with what I want to improve in my game. Those are the goals I set myself and if I can improve and reach those, then all the rest of the stuff I feel will take care of itself.”
As second round action begins this morning McIlroy has a two-stroke lead over Italian player Edoardo Molinari. The Northern Irishman will be hoping his “sublime” play continues throughout the weekend, leading to his first victory of 2014.
