Rory McIlroy leads in Dubai after stunning 62

Rory McIlroy's first competitive round of 2024 was one to remember as he carded a stunning nine-under-par 62 at the first round of the Dubai Invitational.

The County Down golfer, who started on the 10th hole, was in scintillating form at the Dubai Creek Resort, with a couple of missed putts denying him the chance to shoot below 60.

Three was very much for the number for McIlroy as he hit 12 in all with four of those leading to birdies on the back nine. He picked up a further five shots coming in with no blemishes to ensure a two-shot lead over Germany’s Yannik Paul, with the final few golfers finishing off their rounds on Thursday morning.

"I didn’t expect that, it didn’t feel quite as good as that the first couple of days I was here," he told Sky Sports afterwards.

"I surprised myself a little but hopefully more of the same over the next couple of days," he added.

The other Irish golfer in the limited 60-man field in Dubai is another Holywood Golf Club member, however, Tom McKibbin was unable to match McIlroy's hot start to the tournament.

McKibbin did manage to make three birdies throughout his opening 18, however, bogeys on eight, 11 and 15 meant that the 21-year-old had to settle for a level par 71 heading into Friday's second round.

McIlroy's main challenge came from Germany's Yannik Paul, who shot an excellent seven-under 64 in a round that contained eight birdies and just the one dropped shot.

South African Thriston Lawrence is also within striking distance of McIlroy on six under, while Ryder Cup duo Thorbjorn Olesen (2018) and Tommy Fleetwood (2018, 2021, 2023) share fourth place on five under alongside China's Li Haotong.

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