Rory McIlroy carded a two-under par 70 to finish four strokes behind the lead on a disrupted opening day at the DP World India Championship in New Delhi, as thunderstorms forced a lengthy suspension of play.
McIlroy was progressing through the back nine when lightning and thunder in the area halted proceedings. The Northern Irishman and his fellow competitors spent more than four hours off the course before play resumed at 4pm local time, allowing him to complete his round and secure a tie for 13th place.
Beginning his round from the par-four 10th, McIlroy dropped a shot at the opening hole before collecting birdies at the 13th, 15th and 18th to turn in 34. He added another birdie at the second hole on the front nine but stumbled with a second bogey at the third, finishing with six consecutive pars to complete his round.
Denmark's Niklas Nørgaard holds the clubhouse lead on six-under following a 66. McIlroy's fellow Northern Irishman Tom McKibbin sits one shot back at five-under, alongside Eugenio Chacarra, who currently occupies second place in the Race to Dubai standings. According to ESPN, Chacarra's 67 featured seven birdies and two bogeys, while Thomas Detry also reached five-under. Notably, Chacarra was competing while recovering from a broken toe, according to Hindustan Times reporting.
McIlroy, who sits third in the Race to Dubai rankings, reflected on his opening effort with measured optimism.
Yeah, it was okay. I felt like I hit the ball pretty well for the most part. Missed a few putts early on, got it going a little bit around the middle and then maybe missed a couple opportunities when we came back out after the delay.
So overall, it felt like it could have been a couple better but still a solid start. No one's really getting away. The golf course is playing a little bit tougher than it did last year just with how long the rough is. So we'll see how much we play tomorrow, we're not sure. But yeah, it's a solid start and obviously still a lot of golf left to play.
A Scottish contingent made strong starts, with Scott Jamieson, Ewen Ferguson and Bob MacIntyre all posting opening rounds of 68. Tommy Fleetwood, the defending champion who won the inaugural 2025 event by two shots after a final-round 65, finished on two-under alongside McIlroy. Fleetwood's round was marked by a costly double bogey at his final hole, the ninth, after his tee shot found the bushes and he was forced to play sideways.
Justin Rose completed his round at even par, and according to PGA Tour coverage, briefly shared a video of himself chipping balls onto his hotel-room bed during the weather delay.
Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed was among the later groups to tee off following the weather interruption and managed only four holes, already sitting at two-over par. The final four groups did not tee off at all, with the first round set to resume on Friday.
What happens next
The second round is scheduled for October 16, with McIlroy grouped alongside Fleetwood and Robert MacIntyre at 7:15 a.m. local time. McIlroy is chasing a record-equalling Race to Dubai title, with four events remaining in the season, including this championship.
Watch continued coverage of the DP World India Championship live on Sky Sports Golf from 7.30am on Friday. Get the latest Sky Sports deals or stream with no contract on NOW.
