{"id":1249025,"date":"2024-01-18T15:31:16","date_gmt":"2024-01-18T15:31:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/golftoday.co.uk\/rory-mcilroy-finishes-poorly-on-opening-day-of-hero-dubai-desert-classic-defence\/"},"modified":"2024-01-18T20:46:05","modified_gmt":"2024-01-18T20:46:05","slug":"rory-mcilroy-finishes-poorly-on-opening-day-of-hero-dubai-desert-classic-defence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/golftoday.co.uk\/rory-mcilroy-finishes-poorly-on-opening-day-of-hero-dubai-desert-classic-defence\/","title":{"rendered":"Rory McIlroy finishes poorly on opening day of Hero Dubai Desert Classic defence"},"content":{"rendered":"
Rory McIlroy was left to rue a poor finish to his opening round in the defence of his Hero Dubai Desert Classic title.<\/p>\n
Seeking a record fourth victory in the event at Emirates Golf Club, McIlroy made an excellent start with four birdies in the first nine holes and bounced back from a bogey on the first \u2013 his 10th hole \u2013 with a birdie on the second.<\/p>\n
However, the world number two then three-putted the sixth, duffed a chip on the seventh to drop another shot and also bogeyed the eighth to card a disappointing one-under-par 71.<\/p>\n
That left the four-time major winner four shots off the lead shared by 2018 winner Li Haotong, England\u2019s Andy Sullivan, American Cameron Young and Denmark\u2019s Rasmus Hojgaard.<\/p>\n