McIlroy Fires 63 at Abu Dhabi Aldar After Rules Penalty
By Staff Writer
2 min read
Key takeaways
- Rory McIlroy shot a nine-under 63 in Round 2 of the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship.
- He moved to 11 under, one shot behind co-leaders Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton.
- McIlroy was penalized two shots in Round 1 for improving his lie on the 12th hole, turning his 68 into a 70.
- He made 11 birdies over his final 17 holes after an opening bogey from an unplayable lie.
- Race to Dubai leader Eugenio Chacarra shot 71 and trails McIlroy by eight shots at the halfway point.
Rory McIlroy answered a two-shot rules penalty with a nine-under 63 in Friday's second round of the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship, climbing to 11 under and within one shot of co-leaders Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton.
What happened with McIlroy's rules penalty?
McIlroy was penalized two shots after Thursday's opening round for improving his lie on the 12th hole, which turned a double bogey into a quadruple bogey and dropped his score from 68 to 70. He disputed the ruling but said he accepted it rather than risk the appearance of having gotten away with something.
"I'd much rather be two shots worse off than be called a cheat," McIlroy said.
I'd much rather be two shots worse off than be called a cheat.
How did McIlroy respond in Round 2?
McIlroy opened Friday with a bogey after an unplayable lie on the first hole, then played his final 17 holes in 11 birdies to card a 63 at Yas Links. Had he not been penalized on Thursday, he would hold the tournament lead by one shot heading into the weekend.
| Round | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Thu) | 70 (68 plus 2-shot penalty) | Penalized for improving lie on 12th hole |
| 2 (Fri) | 63 (9-under) | Opening bogey, then 11 birdies over final 17 holes |
McIlroy is chasing the Race to Dubai title, and Friday's round pulled him within range of the lead held by Rahm and Hatton. Eugenio Chacarra, who leads the Race to Dubai standings, shot a 71 on Friday and sits eight shots behind McIlroy at the halfway point.
Frequently asked questions
Why was Rory McIlroy penalized at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship?
He received a two-shot penalty in Round 1 for improving his lie on the 12th hole, which turned a double bogey into a quadruple bogey.
What did McIlroy shoot in Round 2?
He shot a nine-under 63 at Yas Links, moving to 11 under for the tournament.
Who leads the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship after Round 2?
Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton are co-leaders, one shot ahead of McIlroy at the halfway point.
McIlroy carries the one-shot deficit and the Race to Dubai implications into the weekend at Yas Links.
- rory mcilroy
- abu dhabi aldar championship
- race to dubai
- jon rahm
- tyrrell hatton
- rules penalty
- yas links
- eugenio chacarra
