Rory McIlroy has stormed to the top of the leaderboard in his first competitive outing of 2026, carding an impressive five-under-par 66 at the Dubai Invitational.
A New Gear for a New Year
The Northern Irish superstar's strong opening round came after a significant equipment change. McIlroy confirmed he is now using new cavity-back irons, a move he had been contemplating for some time. The switch appears to have paid immediate dividends on the course at Dubai Creek Resort.
Expressing clear satisfaction with their performance, McIlroy felt the new clubs contributed to a flying start. He was in scintillating form early on, reeling off seven birdies in his first ten holes. While his round included a couple of bogeys on the back nine, his overall score of 66 was enough to secure the first-round lead.
Reflecting on a Promising Start
Despite holding the advantage, the four-time major champion believed there was room for improvement. He noted that his scoring on the second half of the course could have been better, but he was ultimately pleased with his day's work. This performance marks a confident beginning to his 2026 campaign, setting a positive tone for the year ahead.
The day's play was also marked by a poignant moment of remembrance. Action was temporarily halted to honour Emanuele Galeppini and 39 other victims of the tragic New Year's Day fire in Crans Montana, Switzerland, with a minute's silence observed across the tournament.
McIlroy will now look to build on this promising start as he aims to convert his early lead into a victory at the Dubai Invitational, proving the merit of his new equipment choice on the global stage.
