Rory McIlroy Faces Tense Moment at Abu Dhabi Championship

ABU DHABI, UAE — Rory McIlroy began his week at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship with high hopes after his success at the India Championship. However, just moments into his opening round, he encountered a stressful situation that almost led to a penalty.

Following his first swing of the day, McIlroy could not locate his ball. A frantic search ensued as fans, fellow players, and officials joined in. “Remember, only three minutes nowadays — used to be five,” the announcer reminded viewers of the three-minute time limit under Rule 18.2a.

The atmosphere grew tense as the clock ticked down. At one point during the search, McIlroy slipped while navigating the rough. “Careful, Rory,” the announcers cautioned, emphasizing the importance of staying healthy during this critical season.

Just seconds before the penalty would have been applied, Max Bill, the caddie for Marco Penge, spotted McIlroy’s ball. It was tucked away in a muddy area. Relief washed over McIlroy as he called in a rules official to assess the situation.

After the quick ruling, McIlroy executed a remarkable recovery shot that landed on the green, finishing the hole with a par. This resilience set the tone for his front nine, where he found himself back in the race after a rocky start.

McIlroy recently switched to a new, unreleased TaylorMade Qi4D driver for this event after leaving his previous driver behind in India. “I felt like the driver was good. Obviously, a new driver in the bag this week. Felt like that worked well,” McIlroy said after completing his round, which ended with a score of 4-under-par 68. He finished four shots behind leaders Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood.