RAHM UPSTAGES RORY
They came in their thousands to watch Rory McIlroy’s homecoming and were duly treated to a wonderful 65 on the first day of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open. Not from McIlroy, however — this seven under par spectacular was delivered by his playing partner and the game’s next superstar, Jon Rahm (left). With the third member of the group, world No 2 hideki Matsuyama, shooting 67, the tournament host and defending champion was left in the shade after a humdrum level-par 72 and with decidedly conflicting emotions. ‘Selflessly, it was great to see Jon and hideki do so well. I was thrilled when they entered the event and they are exactly where we want them to be,’ said McIlroy.
‘Selfishly, however, I want to be right there alongside them and I now have my work cut out.’
The big difference, as ever, was on the greens. Rahm is a better putter than McIlroy and showed as much as he rolled in any number of putts.
‘I don’t know if I played that well but I certainly put on a putting clinic,’ said the 22-year-old Spaniard.
As for McIlroy, he needed 33 strokes with the flat stick. ‘I just couldn’t get any momentum and now I’ll need to start well in the morning and get birdies on the board,’ he said. The first task will be to muster enough of them to make sure he is around for the weekend, for he is currently outside the top 100. The last thing he needs is to be hanging around for two days to present his trophy to someone else.
Alongside Rahm in tied third place, one shot off the lead held by little-known American Daniel Im and Benjamin hebert of France, were englishmen Matt Southgate and Oliver Fisher.
It was at this event last year that a tearful Southgate, who had to give up the game for six months owing to surgery for testicular cancer, finished fourth to secure his card.
Smiling broadly, he recalled: ‘It was a week that changed my life in all sorts of wonderful ways and allowed me to loosen the reins with regard to expenses and get the best out of myself.’
The 28-year-old from essex, who on Tuesday qualified for The Open with another 65 at Royal Cinque Ports, added: ‘I just love playing links golf. I’m chuffed to get back into The Open and now I want to keep doing well here.’
Jamie Donaldson, who won the Irish Open title in 2012 down the road at Royal Portrush, shot 66, as did englishman Matt Fitzpatrick.
Portrush native Graeme McDowell thrilled the locals with a 67 to move alongside Justin Rose, while Ian Poulter — who came through final qualifying for The Open this week — shot 68.