Tour Championship Dubai 2021 R1
November 18-21
Jumeirah Golf Estates, Earth Course, Dubai, UAE
$9,000,000
Round 2, Round 3, Round 4

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Rory McIlroy started well in his bid to win a first Rolex Series title at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai played at the Jumeirah Golf Estates where he has already recorded two wins and five top-5s in ten appearances.

Tour Championship Dubai 2021 R1

"I've been coming back here now for 12 years and it flies by. I think (I've got) a lot of experience around this place, a lot of great memories and memories of great shots and great putts."

The Northern Irishman opened birdie-eagle followed by three more birdies and a bogey at the 9th to make the turn in 31 and recorded two more birdies on the back nine for a 65."

Tour Championship Dubai 2021 R1

McIlroy, who last won on the European Tour at the 2019 WGC-HSBC Champions, has won twice on the PGA Tour this season.

"I feel I'm a big boy now. I've been around the block a bit and if I have problems or struggles, I should be able to sort them out myself. Instead of looking to others to fix my problems, I'm going to take responsibility a bit and that's what I did after the Ryder Cup."

Tour Championship Dubai 2021 R1

"I've always been a very visual player. I always see shots. I don't know how much the shot tracer was out there today but people probably see me playing shots again. That's how I've always played golf and seen the game and I just need to get back to seeing it like that again.

"I think sometimes when you don't play your best, I maybe don't set my standards high enough sometimes. They are high but getting into contention in one Major this year isn't good enough for me.

"I've done way better than that before and I know I can again, especially with how I'm playing and feeling like I've got my golf game back, basically. So I'm excited for those four events next year and excited about the road ahead because I really feel like I'm on the right path."

Tour Championship Dubai 2021 R1

Last week's winner Joachim B. Hansen of Denmark lies two shots back in a share of second place alongside South Africa's Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Finn Tapio Pulkkanen.

Current Race to Dubai leader Collin Morikawa, who could become the first American player to win the Harry Vardon Trophy, lies a further shot back at 4-under alongside eight players.

"It was pretty solid throughout," said Morikawa. "Obviously the two bogeys were a little unenforced but I made a few birdies out there and kept the momentum going and it was a good way to start the first rounds out here."

Tour Championship Dubai 2021 R1