Rory McIlroy's short game has often been pinpointed as his biggest weakness, but it was on full display in a good way during the first round of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. First, facing a crazy long putt on the 17th hole, McIlroy decided to hit a pitch instead and got up-and-down.
And then, McIlroy found a greenside bunker on No. 18, but responded with this:
The closing birdie gave McIlroy a 68, putting him two shots back after Day 1. The event is the European Tour's season finale, and the culmination of the Race to Dubai, of which McIlroy is defending champ.
On Tuesday, Danny Willett, currently No. 2 in the standings behind McIlroy, said Rory has been given "an advantage" by the European Tour in being able to compete in the finale despite not playing the total number of required events on the European Tour this season. Willett, playing with McIlroy the first two rounds, also shot 68.
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