McIlroy hits ‘scrappy’ two-under first round on Dubai return

DUBAI: Rory McIlroy got his 2025 season under way with a two-under-par 70 first round at the Dubai Desert Classic on Thursday. The Northern Irishman won the season-ending DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in November for his third successive Race to Dubai title.

And making his first start in two months, the 30-year-old fired four birdies for two bogeys at Emirates Golf Club. “Yeah, pretty scrappy,” McIlroy said. “Actually I felt I played probably better the first eight holes where I was one over compared to the last 10 where I was three under.