Joost Luiten Leads by One in Dubai

• Joost Luiten leads the DP World Tour Championship by one shot after an opening 67.
• Jacob Skov Olesen is alone in second after a 68.
• Rory McIlroy is part of a five-way tie for third after a 69.

Joost Luiten was the last man to qualify for the 50-man field at the DP World Tour Championship, which meant he hit the opening tee shot on Thursday. He then shot a 5-under 67 on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates for a one-shot lead over Jacob Skov Olesen, his lowest score around the course since the final round in 2016.

The Dutchman arrived 56th in the Race to Dubai Rankings. Seven birdies and two bogeys now have him projected as high as fourth, which would guarantee him one of the ten PGA Tour Dual Membership cards on offer this week.

“I said to my caddie, I said, bro, we can only go up this week, you know? We’re last man in, we’ve got nothing to lose, so let’s go for it,” said Luiten. “And it worked out so far.”

After an opening par he birdied the 2nd, 3rd and 5th, then added back-to-back birdies to turn in 31. As the wind got up he dropped shots at the 11th and 12th, recovered one at the 13th and finished with a birdie at the 18th, where he laid up and hit his wedge to seven or eight feet. Luiten was also among the leaders after 36 holes at the DP World India Championship last month.

“The wind picked up, and I made two annoying bogeys on 11 and 12, which especially on 11 wasn’t really needed,” he said. “Like 12, 15, 16, 17, 18 are just tricky holes into the wind. So, you know, you’ve got to hit some good shots there and keep it in the fairway.”

Olesen keeps his title hopes alive

Olesen also went out in 31 and briefly shared the lead after a birdie at the 11th. Bogeys at the 12th and 15th dropped him back before he birdied the last for a 4-under 68.

The Dane is tenth in the Race to Dubai and one of nine players who could still win the Harry Vardon Trophy, though he needs to win the tournament to do it. He is currently projected to take the third of the PGA Tour cards, behind Eugenio Chacarra and Patrick Reed.

McIlroy needs solo fourth

Rory McIlroy, chasing an eighth Race to Dubai title to match Colin Montgomerie’s record, mixed five birdies with two bogeys in a 69. His eagle putt at the 18th came up short. Holing it would have taken him into a tie for second and to the top of the projected rankings. He needs to finish solo fourth or better to have a chance of overtaking Chacarra.

McIlroy is on 3-under alongside Victor Perez, Gregorio De Leo, Freddy Schott and Francesco Laporta.

Chacarra, who took over at the top of the rankings with victory in Delhi and is making only his second appearance at the season finale, made four birdies and four bogeys for a level-par 72. Reed, second in the projected card standings, opened with a 3-over 75.

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