Today's Edition
KUUMAR SHYAM (DUBAI)
Luiten leads Dubai finale as McIlroy and UAE's Otaegui make solid starts.
Joost Luiten took a one-shot lead at the DP World Tour Championship after opening with a five-under-par 67 at Jumeirah Golf Estates on Thursday, while Rory McIlroy and the UAE's Adrian Otaegui made encouraging starts to the season-ending tournament.
Luiten, the last player to qualify for the 50-man field, produced seven birdies and two bogeys on the Earth Course to finish ahead of Denmark's Jacob Skov Olesen, who carded a four-under 68.
McIlroy opened with a three-under 69 to sit in a five-way tie for third alongside Victor Perez, Gregorio De Leo, Freddy Schott and Francesco Laporta.
The Northern Irishman is chasing a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title, matching Colin Montgomerie's achievement. He needs to finish fourth or better to retain a mathematical chance of overtaking current leader Eugenio Chacarra.
McIlroy mixed five birdies with two bogeys and had an opportunity to finish with an eagle at the 18th, but his attempt fell short, leaving him two shots behind Luiten.
Otaegui, meanwhile, carded a two-under 70 to finish eighth, three shots off the lead. The UAE-based Spaniard will look to build on his opening round as he competes on home soil in the prestigious season finale.
Chacarra, who is making only his second appearance at the DP World Tour Championship, had a difficult start to his title bid, recording four birdies and four bogeys for an even-par 72.
Luiten, ranked 56th in the Race to Dubai standings before the tournament, said he approached the championship without pressure after securing the final place in the field.
“I said to my caddie, I said, bro, we can only go up this week, you know? We're last man in, we've got nothing to lose, so let's go for it,” he said. “And it worked out so far.”
The Dutchman made successive bogeys at the 11th and 12th as the wind picked up but recovered to finish five under.
“But the wind picked up, and I made two annoying bogeys on 11 and 12 … But, you know, it happens in these conditions. And I'm quite happy finishing five under because coming in it's tricky,” he added.
Luiten's position also puts him in contention for one of the 10 PGA Tour Dual Membership cards available this week for those who have not secured it already. He is currently projected to climb as high as fourth in the standings.
Olesen, ranked 10th in the Race to Dubai, is among nine players still mathematically in contention for the Harry Vardon Trophy. However, he needs to win the tournament to have a chance of claiming both titles.
