Rory McIlroy Fires Stunning 63 to Move Within One Shot of Abu Dhabi Championship Lead

Posted : 06 November 2026

Rory McIlroy produced an outstanding performance in the second round of the Abu Dhabi Championship, carding a nine-under-par 63 featuring 11 birdies to move within one shot of the tournament lead.

The Northern Irishman responded impressively after receiving a two-shot penalty during Thursday's opening round. His remarkable Friday performance lifted him to 11 under par overall, putting him firmly in contention for the title.

Spain's Jon Rahm, England's Tyrrell Hatton and Italy's Francesco Laporta currently share the lead at 12 under. McIlroy is among a group of four players sitting one stroke behind, alongside England's Sam Bairstow and Matthew Jordan and Poland's Adrian Meronk.

Laporta began the tournament with a 10-under-par opening round to establish a two-shot advantage. However, Rahm and Hatton delivered stronger performances on Friday to join the Italian at the top of the leaderboard.

The 37-year-old's round began with disappointment after he bogeyed the opening hole, but he quickly recovered with birdies at the second, fourth and seventh. He then delivered an exceptional stretch, making five consecutive birdies between the ninth and 13th holes to climb rapidly up the standings.

A bogey at the 14th briefly interrupted his momentum, but McIlroy responded with further birdies on the 17th and 18th to complete a memorable round. The 11-birdie performance also marked a personal best for the seven-time Race to Dubai champion in a single DP World Tour round.

His impressive comeback followed Thursday's two-shot penalty, which was imposed after officials reviewed footage of him pressing his club into the grass behind his ball while preparing a chip shot on the par-four 12th. The incident resulted in his opening-round score changing to a two-under-par 70, leaving him eight strokes behind the leader.

McIlroy explained that he had accepted the decision and refused to allow the controversy to affect his performance. He said he approached Friday's round with a clear mind and was able to concentrate fully on his golf.

He was particularly encouraged by improvements in his putting, having struggled to convert opportunities in recent months. The Northern Irishman also highlighted his driving and iron play as important factors behind his impressive score.

Beyond the tournament itself, McIlroy is pursuing another major achievement in the Race to Dubai standings. He is aiming to secure his fifth consecutive title and an eighth overall, which would equal Colin Montgomerie's record.

McIlroy entered the Abu Dhabi event in third place in the season-long rankings, behind Spain's Eugenio Chacarra and American Patrick Reed. Chacarra moved into the rankings lead following his victory at the DP World India Championship, while Reed had previously held the top position after winning tournaments in Dubai and Qatar.

His second-round resurgence has significantly improved his chances of challenging for the Abu Dhabi title while keeping his Race to Dubai ambitions alive ahead of the season-ending competition.

Rory McIlroy Fires Stunning 63 to Move Within One Shot of Abu Dhabi Championship Lead

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics