Race to Dubai leader Eugenio Chacarra has defended Rory McIlroy after the Masters champion was handed a two-shot penalty at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship. McIlroy was penalised under Rule 8.1b(4) for an incident at the par-four 12th during his opening round at Yas Links GC. The world No 2 appeared to press his club on grass behind his ball ahead of his fourth shot, although video footage was deemed inconclusive by the rules committee.
Chacarra, who saw the incident firsthand, insists McIlroy did not improve his lie and offered to support him in contesting the decision. McIlroy, chasing a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title, accepted the penalty despite believing there was no intent to gain an advantage. The incident turned a double-bogey six into a quadruple-bogey eight, though McIlroy still posted six birdies to sit eight strokes behind early leader Francesco Laporta.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing