Ryder Cupper Nicolai Hojgaard among leaders after first round of 2023 DP World Tour Championship
Rory McIlroy has already clinched the season-long Race to Dubai title, but there’s still hardware on the line this week at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
European Ryder Cupper Nicolai Hojgaard is tied for the lead at 5 under alongside Julien Guerrier and Matthieu Pavon. Guerrier and Pavon were bogey free on Thursday, while Hojgaard was 1 over through six holes before closing his round with six birdies over the final 12 holes.
“I played really well today,” Hojgaard said. “Drove it well from hole No. 1 to 18, even though it was a little bit of a circus on 18, felt really solid. Got on a run. You know there’s a few chances out there, so it’s just about keep hitting good shots and stay present, and I feel I did a good job today.”
Jens Dantorp, Antoine Rozner and Adrian Meronk are tied for fourth at 4 under while a group including Tommy Fleetwood, Tom Kim, Viktor Hovland and Robert MacIntyre sit 3 under, T-7.
DP World Tour Championship: Leaderboard
McIlroy opened with a 1-under 71 that included an interesting fan interaction when his tee shot landed in a spectator’s lap.
Rory McIlroy's tee shot lands on spectator 's lap! 🤯#DPWTC | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/Yklsw5Nqhq
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 16, 2023
World No. 3 Jon Rahm, who won this event last year, shot an even-par 72.
Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy's TaylorMade Qi 10 LS driver appears to be fitted with the same Fujikura Ventus…
Rory McIlroy's TaylorMade Qi 10 LS driver appears to be fitted with the same Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6 X shaft he played throughout most of 2023. (Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
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The two previous carbon fiber faces in TaylorMade drivers have been red, but Rory's Qi10 LS…
The two previous carbon fiber faces in TaylorMade drivers have been red, but Rory's Qi10 LS has a deep blue face. (Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
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Rory McIlroy's TaylorMade Qi10 LS driver
In addition to the sliding weight in the front, there is a weight port in the…
In addition to the sliding weight in the front, there is a weight port in the back of the Qi10 LS. (Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images
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Rory McIlroy's TaylorMade Qi10 LS driver
Rory's TaylorMade Qi10 LS has a started loft of 9 degrees, and the adjustable hosel is…
Rory's TaylorMade Qi10 LS has a started loft of 9 degrees, and the adjustable hosel is set to Standard, which means the loft should remain a 9 degrees. (Ross Kinnard/Getty Images)
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There is a white line on the seam between the topline and the face that is…
There is a white line on the seam between the topline and the face that is similar to the alignment line added to the Stealth 2 fairway woods. (Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
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Rory McIlroy
Using the QI10 LS, McIlroy shot a 1-under 71 Thursday while averaging 315 yards per tee…
Using the QI10 LS, McIlroy shot a 1-under 71 Thursday while averaging 315 yards per tee shot. (Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
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