Abu Dhabi Championship: Rory McIlroy handed two-shot penalty for rules infringement as Francesco Laporta sets early pace

Francesco Laporta holds a three-shot lead after the opening round of the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship, where Rory McIlroy's Race to Dubai hopes suffered a setback after being handed a two-shot penalty post-round.

Laporta opened a three-shot advantage after a low-scoring opening day at Yas Links GC, where he narrowly missed out on the course record during his bogey-free 62.

The Italian carded an eagle and eight birdies to set the clubhouse lead ahead of Jon Rahm, Sam Bairstow and Bernd Wiesberger, who all sit on seven under, while Matthew Jordan and Adrian Meronk are both a further stroke back in a share of fifth.

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McIlroy started the week third in the season-long standings as he chases a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title, with The Masters champion initially appearing to be six strokes back after birdieing three of his final five holes.

The Northern Irishman was adjudged to have improved his lie at the par-four 12th and assessed a two-shot penalty post-round, seeing his double-bogey six into a quadruple-bogey eight and leaving him signing for a two-under 70.

"There's obviously no intent - I play by the rules and I try and do everything I can to never end up in these positions," McIlroy said post-round. "But just by looking at the video, it doesn't look very good."

Post-round penalty delays McIlroy's Race to Dubai push

McIlroy - who has 10 previous top-three finishes in Abu Dhabi without victory - birdied both par-fives on the front nine and added another at the 11th, then saw his round unravel with his rules infringement at the par-four 12th.

Replays showed his first chip shot - his third - rolled back down a hill into a divot, with a piece of grass appearing to move as he assessed the lie before playing his next shot.

"I'm just trying to get a feel of the lie," McIlroy explained. "The ball is in the bottom of a sandy divot, and I'm just trying to feel if I can get a 54 degree (wedge) onto the back of the ball. In the process, this piece of the grass is laid down.

"I don't feel like I pressed down (on the grass) but, at the same time, I don't want the perception of people thinking that I got away with something either. I'm happy to take the two-shot penalty, move on and move into tomorrow."

McIlroy responded by driving the green at the 359-yard par-four 14th, setting up a two-putt birdie, then holed from 40 feet at the next and picked up another shot from close range at the 16th.

He was unable to take advantage of the par-five last and sits eight back alongside Race to Dubai leader Eugenio Chacarra, while Patrick Reed - completing that threeball - struggled to a two-over 74 after a final-hole double bogey.

"I don't think he [McIlroy] improves his lie," Chacarra said about the McIlroy incident. "Obviously, the referee and him thought different. In the video, it doesn't look great, but we've been watching Rory for a long time and he's a class man and never tries to improve his lies."

Rahm chases as Laporta leads

Laporta raced to the turn in 30 and added four birdies in a six-hole stretch from the 11th, leaving him needing a birdie-eagle finish to card only the second '59 round' in DP World Tour history.

He settled for par at the 17th and then missed a birdie chance at the last to match the course record, leaving on 10 under, with Rahm among his closest challengers after carding seven birdies a bogey-free 65.

"Obviously a very good score," Rahm said. "I think the highlight today was my iron game - gave myself plenty of chances and obviously holed a few. A few bad swings that I got away with, but I shot really nicely today."

Bairstow also made a blemish-free start and Wiesberger mixed seven birdies with a lone bogey to share second with Rahm, while his former LIV Golf teammate Tyrrell Hatton and reigning champion Aaron Rai five strokes back after five-under 67s.

Watch the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues Friday from 7am on Sky Sports Golf. Get the latest Sky Sports deals or stream with no contract.

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Abu Dhabi Championship: Rory McIlroy handed two-shot penalty for rules infringement as Francesco Laporta sets early pace