Absent from the Race final last December in Dubai, Rory McIlroy did not miss his return to the European Tour.
The Northern Irishman, who shares his first two laps with the Englishman Lee Westwood, winner of the 2020 Race, and the world n ° 3, the American Justin Thomas, offered a real recital, slamming a sublime 64 (-8 ) without the slightest error this Thursday in Abu Dhabi.
The almost three hours delay (2h55 exactly) taken on the initial schedule due to thick fog this morning in the United Arab Emirates (66 players were unable to sign their card due to lack of visibility at the end of the day) have therefore not really disturbed the current world No. 6, in search of a first success here at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
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"There were a lot of very good today," said the Briton at the mico of the European Tour.
I hit the ball very well in the driving, the distance control was perfectly mastered.
I hit very nice shots with irons… I also putt very well on the greens.
Anyway, I really think I've had the best possible start here in my entire career.
I have already posted some very good scores on this course but I must admit that today's is quite possibly the best of them.
I often had difficulty reading the greens here but I had my eye clearly in this first lap, and it served me well… ”
Play has been suspended for the day.
Play will resume at 07:40 tomorrow, with round two not starting before 9am local time. # ADGolfChamps # RolexSeriespic.twitter.com / b1xjYPSLAw
- The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 21, 2021
A length behind the leaderboard, we find the world n ° 9, the Englishman Tyrrell Hatton, impeccable with his 65 (-7) of the day, strong of two eagles and three birdies.
The surprise guest, the Paraguayan Fabrizio Zanotti, completed the podium two strokes from McIlroy with an excellent 66 (-6) without error.
Among the big favorites to the final victory on Sunday who put themselves in a favorable position from the start, we can cite the English Matt Wallace (6th to -4), the stainless Lee Westwood, 47 years old if you plait, tenth at -3, or Justin Rose, stopped by the night when he also posted a solid -3 after 11 holes played.
On the other hand, some other top names have already tripped up such as Justin Thomas, 83rd with his inaugural 73 (+1), Tommy Fleetwood, 19th in the world, yet double winner in Abu Dhabi, in the hard with his +3 after only 10 holes and a still very provisional 116th place, and the Irishman Shane Lowry, 122nd at +4 with seven holes to negotiate…
Rory's 352 yard drive on 14 # ADGolfChamps # RolexSeriespic.twitter.com / ZJZ4oEQSMe
- The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 21, 2021
On the French side, of the eleven present this week in the Middle East, it is Romain Langasque who makes the best start.
His 67 (-5) allows him to grab fourth place, one point ahead of Victor Perez, still as solid when it comes to the Rolex Series.
A nice revenge in any case for the Azure who had not been able to take part in the final of the Race due to a positive Covid-19 test forcing him to remain cloistered in his Dubai hotel room during almost a week.
Langasque aims for the World Top 50 in 2021
“I certainly played one of my best rounds today,” explains the Frenchman, who won his first tournament in the European Tour last August in Wales.
Playing like that on such a stunning course is great.
Last year I recorded my first victory but the results have been rather linear all year round.
The goal in 2021 is the top 50 in the world and aim higher.
It's up to me to prepare myself and put things in place to get there… ”
Behind Langasque and Perez, we find Antoine Rozner - already!
- and Mike Lorenzo-Vera at -1 in 32nd position, with five and nine holes remaining respectively.
Alexander Levy and Benjamin Hébert are in the cut (par) in 55th place.
But the Briviste, stopped at 8, can nevertheless improve his classification this Friday in the morning… If this time the fog decides to dissipate in due course.
