Mcilroy pleased to get back on track following sore 7 in Dubai
If Rory Mcilroy is to get back to winning ways in majors this year, he’ll have to overcome moments of adversity. Albeit under no real pressure, the Northernirishmanwasunderstandably pleased, therefore, about how he recovered from his first setback in 2024.
On the back of his sparkling first-day 62 in the DP World Tour’s inaugural Dubai Invitational, Mcilroy picked up two shots in the opening four holes in the second circuit and, leading by four shots, was in cruise control when he arrived on the tee at the par-3 eighth at Dubai Creek.
For the second day running, Scot Calum Hill had already taken a double bogey there and, after putting two balls in the water guarding the left of the green, it cost the world No 2 a quadruple-bogey 7. He briefly losttheleadbutwasbackinpole position at the halfway stage.
Thanks to birdies at the tenth, 13th and 16th, Mcilroy salvaged a 70 to sit on ten-under-par, two shots ahead of Dane Jeff Winther after his joint-best-ofthe-day 66 and Germany’s Yannik Paul (70).
Tommy Fleetwood, who picked up three shots in his last six holes to sign for a 69, is in a group on seven under, but, having been impressive for all but one hole so far, Mcilroy is on course to launch his bid for a sixth Race to Dubai title on a winning note.
“Yeah, if I look at the other 17 holes I played, I played very well again,” the four-time major winner told Sky Sports Golf. “Hit some good iron shots and played not too dis-similarly to the way I played yesterday, when I maybe holed a few more putts. But the conditions were getting a little tricker - wind was up and greens were firm.
“I had a couple of miscues on the eighth hole and I felt I did well to get my head back into it and play some solid golf on the way in. Everyone seemed to find it a bit more difficult today than yesterday, so it’s nice to go into the weekend still holding the lead.”
Dubai-based Ewen Ferguson signed for a bogey-free 68 to be leading Scot on five under, four shots ahead of newly-wed Grant Forrest after he shot the same second-day score.
“It’s nice, isn’t it, just playing in a limited field with no cut,” said Ferguson of the 2024 calendar campaign starting with a 60-player pro line-up. “It’s quite a good way to break yourself back into competition. It’s been a bit of a fun week at the same time as it obviously being a serious event.” Mcilroy, meanwhile, responded to the announcement on Thursday that Keith Pelley, the DP World Tour’s chief executive, is leaving the post to return to Canada to become president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd, with Guy Kinnings set to step up from his current role as deputy at the Wentworth-based organisation in early April.
Referring to Pelley, he said: “Guy’s been around the tour in different capacities for quite a while. Especially with everything that’s going on in the game, Guy has pretty much been in all those rooms over the past couple of years, so I thought it was a pretty natural transition to go from Keith to Guy and I am pretty confident Guy will do a good job as well.”
Lesley Bernard, a popular figure in her role with the PGA in Scotland, has won the PGA National Employee of the Year for 2023. Bernard started with the PGA in 1988 and has worked under a number of regional managers, the current incumbent being David Longmuir.
She said: “I have been involved in almost all aspects of the business and have had some wonderful colleagues. I was very surprised and proud to win as this was the first time someone in the region has won an award.”
Two Scottish clubs are in the running for a coveted award in the greenkeeping industry.
Paisley and Porthlethen have made the list of nominations along with Walton Heath for the Championship Greenkeeping Performance of the Year in the 2023 British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) Awards.
Paisley has been recognised for hosting the Scottish Men’s Area Team Championship Finals in September while Portlethen caught the eye for hosting the Scottish Boys Under-16s Open in July.
The winner will be announced later this month during the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME) in Harrogate.
serving as team captain, secretary and president, in the re-establishment of the University Golf Club.
After a spell in Australia, he managed the pro shop at Wearside Golf Club before moving to Edinburgh in 2016 to join the team at Murrayfield.
During his PGA training, he was recognised as a two-time PGA in Scotland Assistant of the Year and takes on his new role after a spell working alongside renowned coach Peter Arnott based at Swanston Academy.