McIlroy stretched his lead over Spieth with birdies at 10 and 12, the American sinking three birdies and two birdies in an erratic six holes, but the Northern Irishman then lipped out a 30-foot putt of the final green and Spieth responded with eight-foot birdie to narrow the gap.
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“I don’t think it takes anything away from the tradition of the game or etiquette or how guys look on the course”.
“So look at Tiger [Woods], Phil [Mickelson]… this is still our generation, Tiger, Phil, Rory, these guys that have done more in the game of golf than I have, and I want to strive to get to what they have done. I understand the rule but it doesn t make a whole lot of sense when our group had caught up”.
The European Tour’s chief referee John Paramor tried to put it down to transatlantic differences.
The airline and Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) have signed an agreement to extend the long-standing partnership with the annual European Tour event, which tees off at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club on Thursday. Leave your thoughts in the “Comments” section below.
Under a new policy which starts this week, players in a group on watch have 40 seconds (up to 50 seconds if they’re first to play) to play a shot. Sometimes we need to apply some common sense, especially when we are not out of position.
McIlroy was confident that the extended break, and laser surgery on his eyes, is going to help him on the golf course in what is shaping up to be an exceptionally busy year with the Olympics and Ryder Cup on the card.
“There were two speeds, 6mph and 14mph and we all said we would stick to 6mph, “McIlroy told reporters at stuff.co.nz”.
“I don t know if it s about making a statement, but I just want to play well”. “The course plays different day-to-day anyways but it was just in such spectacular shape. I think I’ll be remembered for my Major championships”, he said.
“It was a masterclass, the Rory that I have seen win major championships”, Spieth said after a birdie on the last ensured he finished just two shots behind McIlroy and four behind fellow American Bryson DeChambeau, a 22-year-old amateur who topped the leaderboard.
“I felt in practice last week I was swinging well and I came back fresh and excited to play again”.
This unseemly business rather deflected from a terrific McIlroy start to the year. If you can drive the ball well and keep it in play because you can see because if you hit it in the rough it makes it hard to even hit the greens.
You would think the same of DeChambeau, but this disciple of Ben Hogan can not be judged so straightforwardly.
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DeChambeau shot an 8-under 64 at the Abu Dhabi Championship to take a one-stroke lead in the first round in what might be the strongest field in a European Tour event this year. “I’ve not heard one person, one tour player complain about it”.
