The Arizona Republic

Fitzpatric­k grabs Race to Dubai momentum as McIlroy labors

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Matt Fitzpatric­k’s fast start helped him move out in front in the Race to Dubai as Rory McIlroy struggled in the first round of the season-ending DP World Tour Championsh­ip.

Fitzpatric­k birdied his first five holes and finished with a bogey-free 7-under 65 on Thursday for his lowest round on the Earth Course, where he is a two-time winner.

The U.S. Open champion was tied for the lead with Tyrrell Hatton, who went on a run of four straight birdies from the 13th hole but finished with his lone bogey on the par-5 18th.

McIlroy leads the Race to Dubai standings as he bids to be the European tour’s leading player for the fourth time in his career, but needed a birdie on the 18th just to get under par with a 71 that tied him for 22nd.

Ryan Fox, who is second in the points table to McIlroy, managed only a 73 to sit tied for 33rd.

Fitzpatric­k would clinch a first Race to Dubai title with a third win at the World Tour Championsh­ip, provided McIlroy or Fox don’t finish the event in second.

Even a second-place finish would be good enough for Fitzpatric­k as long as McIlroy doesn’t finish lower than seventh.

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