Great Starts: McIlroy, Morikawa Off And Running At DP World

There are two stars with two different searches/agendas underway among the sands of Dubai at the DP World Tour Championship.

World No. 2 Collin Morikawa started his search on Thursday — a search/task/challenge to become the first-ever American to win the European Tour’s Race To Dubai.  For the record, it used to be the European Tour Order Of Merit.  Young Collin got off to a nifty start on day one at the Jumeirah Golf Estates, fairway-and-greening his way to an opening 68 on the Earth course.

World No. 8 Rory McIlroy has tasked himself with rebuilding his game, Rory’s out to re-discover the skills and game that once made him the world’s No. 1 and put four major championships on his resume.  Rory, who is oh-so-familiar with the Earth course, long-balled, pitched and putted his way to a wonderful seven-under par 65 that put him at the very top of the leader-board.

Morikawa is in the driver’s seat to win the Race To Dubai, Rory cannot.

Morikawa took care of business to get his tournament started.  He basically is in a contest with six other players and the Race leaderboard looked like this:

68:  Collin Morikawa

70:  Tyrrell Hatton, Matt Fitzpatrick, Paul Casey.

72:  Min Woo Lee

74:  Billy Horschel

It was a bad day for Horschel, who is second in the overall Race points behind Morikawa.  Horschel didn’t make a birdie until the 17th hole and it was his only one in the first round.  Three bogeys over the first four holes on the back nine sent him into a tie for 45th in the 53-man field.  On the other hand, Morikawa hit 11 of 14 fairways, 13 of 18 greens and two misses from six feet produced his two bogeys for the day.  “A great way to start the first round,” said the second-ranked player in the world.  “I  felt really good going to the week with my irons.

Now for the leader.

McIlroy’s game was the best it’s looked all year — add that to his many rounds on the Earth course and it looked easy for him on day one.  “Yeah, a lot of experience around this place — great memories,” Rory began as he explained his nearly-perfect day.  “If you can carry it 300 (yards) it makes it a lot easier around this place.”  Rory’s shot of the day came early.  After an opening birdie, he launched a perfect five-wood on the par five second that settled just 10 feet from the hole and he’d make eagle.  “I absolutely flushed it,” McIlroy said of his second into the green.

Rory’s also done a lot of self-examination after the Ryder Cup.  He responded with a victory at the CJ Cup.  “I’ve been around the block a bit,” McIlroy began.  “I have struggles.  I should be able to sort them out myself.  I need to go back to hitting shots again.  Getting into contention in one major (in 2021) is not good enough for me.  I’m excited for those four (majors) next year.  I feel I’m on the right path.”

Rory’s path was spot on Thursday.  He finished off his round at the 18th where his second came up short and left him a difficult pitch shot.  He had to take it up and over a significant slope in the green in front of him.  Rory responded with a perfect lofted wedge shot that finished just two feet from the hole, leaving him an easy tap-in for his field-leading 65.

Morikawa headed a group of 10 at four-under and three back of Rory.

McIlroy sounded like he’s in a really good place.  Played like it too.

Same for Morikawa.

Two great talents, three rounds to go.

DP World Tour Championship Scoreboard:

Friday Update:  Collin Morikawa shot a second straight 68 and at eight-under par, he’s just two shots off the lead at the halfway mark.  He wasn’t even thinking about winning “The Race” — “I wanna win this tournament,” said the world’s No. 2.  Collin got the break of the day at the 17th, par three.  His tee shot sailed a bit right and was headed for the water guarding the green when his ball bounced off a hazard stake and allowed him to get up-and-down for par. “Got a lucky break.  Those are the kind of breaks you need (to win).”  As for first round leader Rory McIlroy, his day was going fine.  He did miss a short three-footer for par at the 10th but he totally shot himself in the foot at the closing par five 18th.  His drive found a left-side fairway bunker.  His layup was fine but on his third, he hit a risky shot, going for a pin that was tucked way left and so very close to the stream running alongside the green.  Rory pulled his wedge a bit and oops! — it bounced left and into the hazard.  He hit a sloppy chip, left himself six feet for bogey and missed.  The double-bogey sent him from 11-under par and in the lead to nine-under and a shot behind the lead trio of Shane Lowry (65), John Catlin (65) and Sam Horsfield (66).  “I hit a good shot,” Rory said of his third into the 18th.  It just came off a little spinny into the wind.”  Rory’s 70 left him at nine-under.