McIlroy Two-Shot Penalty Leaves Him Eight Back

Rory McIlroy was assessed a two-stroke penalty after his opening round at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship for improving his lie in the rough on the 12th hole. Officials determined that his club pressed down grass behind his ball before his next shot, violating a rule against improving conditions affecting a stroke; the penalty turned his double bogey into a quadruple bogey and his 68 into a 70. McIlroy said he did not intend to alter the lie, but accepted the ruling and moved on. The penalty left him eight shots behind leader Francesco Laporta and hurt his bid for a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title.