Rory McIlroy shot a two-under par opening round to finish four shots behind the clubhouse lead on a part-suspended first day of play at the DP World India Championship in New Delhi.
McIlroy was midway through the back nine when play was stopped for thunder and lightning in the area, with players then off the course for over four hours. When play resumed at 4pm local time, he completed a round of 70 to sit tied 13th.
The world No 2 started from the par-four 10th, which he bogeyed, and went out in 34 after birdies at the 13th, 15th and 18th. He found another birdie at the second hole but followed that with a second bogey of the round at the third, before finishing with six successive pars.
Denmark's Niklas Norgaard holds the clubhouse lead on six-under thanks to a 66, with McIlroy's fellow Northern Irishman Tom McKibbin one of three players at five-under alongside Eugenio Chacarra, who is second in the Race to Dubai standings. McIlroy, third in those rankings, said he felt he struck the ball well but missed some early putts and chances after the delay. He added that the course is playing tougher than last year because of the longer rough. Scottish trio Scott Jamieson, Ewen Ferguson and Bob MacIntyre all shot opening rounds of 68, while Tommy Fleetwood finished on two-under alongside McIlroy after dropping two shots at the ninth. Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed was among the late starters and had completed only four holes, two-over. The final four groups did not tee off, with the first round resuming on Friday.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing