Showing off a revamped backswing he spent weeks working on, McIlroy kept his misses to a minimum in posting an opening-round 67 and is tied for the lead after the first day of the event with Tyrrell Hatton at 5 under.

Rory McIlroy and Tyrrell Hatton both trail by one shot as Antoine Rozner strikes the front heading into the weekend at DP World Tour Championship.

Rory McIlroy closing on a sixth Race to Dubai title and sits tied-second alongside Tyrrell Hatton at the DP World Tour Championship; Antoine Rozner holds halfway lead in Dubai; Watch throughout the we

The path is clear for Rory McIlroy to clinch the year-long Race to Dubai title and be crowned the European tour's best player for a sixth time.

The path is clear for Rory McIlroy to clinch the year-long Race to Dubai title and be crowned the European tour’s best player for a sixth time.

Rory McIlroy claimed a share of the lead on day one of the DP World Tour Championship to further tighten his grip on a sixth Race to Dubai title. McIlroy carded six birdies and a solitary bogey in an opening 67 matched by Ryder Cup team-mate Tyrrell Hatton, with England’s Paul Waring, who won in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, a shot off the pace.

Two familiar names sit atop the DP World Tour leaderboard after day one. Rory McIlroy and Tyrrell Hatton posted 5-under 67s, combining to make 13 birdies to soar into the lead. But perhaps more importantly, McIlroy, who holds a sizeable advantage in the ...

Rory McIlroy is already an overwhelming favorite to win the European tour’s season-long Race to Dubai title and he has just made his chances even better