Rory McIlroy is on course to win a sixth Race to Dubai title and sixth on the bounce this week, but this did not stop him from showing his frustration at the DP World Tour Championship
Rory McIlroy’s frustration got the better of him in the second round of the DP World Tour Championship on Friday, after the Northern Irishman was seen crashing his club into the ground after an unfortunate mistake.
McIlroy is looking to continue to write his name into European golf history books this week, with the 35-year-old in touching distance of winning a sixth Race to Dubai title, and a third on the bounce. And it has been so far so good at the season-ending event in the Middle East.
His week at the Earth Course got off to a solid start on Thursday, carding a five-under-par 67 in the opening round to tie himself at the top of the leaderboard with his Ryder Cup teammate – and LIV Golf rival – Tyrrell Hatton.
Looking to continue this form on day two, McIlroy began impressively, moving himself into the outright lead with three birdies in his first four holes. He then traded a birdie and a bogey at the seventh and eighth to ensure he made the turn at three-under-par for the day.
He was looking to get himself back on the birdie train at the favourable par-four 10th, but a rare wayward drive from the tee left the Northern Irishman in trouble. Stuck in the wasteland area, McIlroy found himself in a horrid lie, and keen to save his par, was looking to punch his ball back out onto the fairway.
Sitting poorly though, McIlroy failed to execute the shot he intended, but he did manage to find his way back onto grass, as his attempt from the waste area just about trickled into the rough. The effort left him a near-impossible up-and-down over a bunker with a tucked pin, leaving the four-time major winner frustrated.
McIlroy faced a tricky lie ( Image: Sky Sports Golf)
He took out this frustration on the lie below him, hitting his club into the wasteland before trudging over to his third shot. He then played a solid wedge onto the green, but could only two-putt, ensuring he made his second bogey of the day. In usual fashion though, McIlroy was able to dust himself down.
A run of seven-straight pars then followed before he finally got himself another birdie on the final hole of the day. Having flirted his tee shot down the right-hand side of the fairway, McIlroy hit a superb five-wood from 270 yards into the green, leaving him 15-feet up the hill for eagle.
And whilst he failed to convert his first putt, the five-time Race to Dubai champion tidied up to make four, leaving him at eight-under for the event, one back of leader, Antoine Rozner. Speaking afterwards, McIlroy said: “A little disappointed that I didn’t kick on after such a great start, four-under through seven…
“But yeah, I thought I hit my tee shot in the hazard on the last so it was nice to get up there and see it dry end and up having a 20-footer for eagle. Nice way to finish and as you say, a good position going into the weekend right there.”
