McIlroy hit with two-shot penalty as Laporta leads in Abu Dhabi
Rory McIlroy incurred a two-stroke penalty at the end of his opening round at the Abu Dhabi Championship on Thursday for a rules infringement, with Italy's Francesco Laporta storming into the lead. Officials ruled that McIlroy improved his lie on the 12th hole when he appeared to press down grass behind his ball with his club before chipping at Yas Links.
Rory McIlroy and Francesco Laporta emerged as the top performers in the first round of the Abu Dhabi Championship, showcasing a low scoring affair. The race to the Race to Dubai title, which will crown the top player on the European tour, was in full swing. Laporta led with a 10-under 62, while McIlroy and Jon Rahm were trailing by three strokes.
Laporta nearly matched his score with a birdie putt at No. 18 but fell short. McIlroy rebounded from a double bogey at No. 12 by making three consecutive birdies, but still found himself six shots behind Laporta. Chacarra and Reed both struggled, with Chacarra shooting 70 and Reed a 74. McIlroy's quest for a fifth straight title could be decided at the end of the week, as the winner will receive 1,500 points.
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