Rory McIlroy has made a strong start to the 2026 season, carding a five-under 66 to take the opening-round lead at the Dubai Invitational. The Northern Irishman’s performance at Dubai Creek Resort signals continued momentum after a historic 2025 season.

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McIlroy’s Winning Start

The world number two, who completed a career Grand Slam with his Masters victory last April, demonstrated composure and precision in his first competitive outing of the year. McIlroy’s round included seven birdies and two bogeys, giving him a one-shot advantage over Scotland’s Connor Syme and Spain’s David Puig, who both shot 67s.

“I like the work and the process. I enjoy doing challenging things, and if you make that routine, you don’t need motivation—it becomes your lifestyle,” McIlroy said. “I’ve done it for so long now that if I didn’t do it, it would feel pretty foreign.”

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Round-One Highlights

• Back nine brilliance: McIlroy opened on the back nine with four birdies and a bogey over his first five holes.
• Closing out: He added three further birdies before a bogey on his 12th hole (third on the front nine) dropped him one shot back. He finished the round with six pars.
• Equipment changes: McIlroy is using a new golf ball and irons this season, adjusting quickly to the modifications.

Defending champion Tommy Fleetwood ended his round at two under par after birdies on the final two holes. England’s Matt Wallace briefly threatened McIlroy’s lead at seven under but dropped four shots over his final seven holes. Other early contenders include Marcus Armitage and Shane Lowry, who both sit at two under after round one.

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Dubai Invitational Round-One Leaderboard

• -5 Rory McIlroy (NIR)
• -4 Connor Syme (SCO), David Puig (ESP)
• -3 Aleksi Lindell (FIN), Matt Wallace (ENG), Loic Guerrier (FRA), Adri Ayora (ESP), Alex Rozner (FRA)
• -2 Ander Larrazabal (ESP), Lopez-Chacarra (ESP), Shane Lowry (IRE), Tommy Fleetwood (ENG), Patrick Reed (USA)
• -1 Danny Willett (ENG)
• +1 Paul Harrington (IRE)
• +3 Tom McKibbin (NIR)

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Looking Ahead

McIlroy will look to extend his lead in round two as he chases further victories in 2026 following his Masters, Ryder Cup, Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Players Championship, and Irish Open wins in 2025. With strong competition from Lowry, Fleetwood, and emerging contenders, the Dubai Invitational promises an exciting weekend of golf.

Live coverage is available across BBC Sport, BBC Radio, and BBC Sounds, with updates on scores, highlights, and leaderboards throughout the event.