McIlroy Takes Two-Shot Penalty After Abu Dhabi Opening Round

McIlroy’s score of 6 on the par-4 12th became an 8 after officials reviewed video of his shot preparation. His ball had rolled back into a divot after a chip failed to reach the green. Footage showed him placing his club behind the ball, where grass appeared to be pressed down. The penalty changed his first-round score from 68 to 70, leaving him eight strokes behind the leader.

The European tour said players may rest a club lightly near the ball but may not press it into the ground. McIlroy told officials he could not say whether he had pressed the grass. He said he had no intention of improving his lie, but accepted the penalty because he was uncomfortable with how the video might be perceived. “It doesn’t look very good,” he said of the footage.

Francesco Laporta led at 10 under par after a bogey-free 62 at Yas Links, three shots ahead of a group that included Jon Rahm. McIlroy made three consecutive birdies starting at the 14th after his costly hole. He was tied with Eugenio Chacarra, while Patrick Reed finished at 74.

The tournament is the second-to-last event of the European tour season, and the result affects the Race to Dubai standings. Chacarra entered the week leading McIlroy by about 1,000 points, with Reed roughly 330 points ahead of McIlroy. The Abu Dhabi winner earns 1,500 points; 2,000 are available at next week’s season finale in Dubai.