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McIlroy makes 11 birdies, one shot off lead in Abu Dhabi

Rory McIlroy rebounded from first-round penalty controversy by making 11 birdies and shooting 9-under 63 at the Abu Dhabi Championship on Friday.

ESPN

Published: Friday, 6 November 2026 at 2:45 PM

Key Things to Know

Rory McIlroy carded 11 birdies to shoot a 9-under 63, moving one shot off the lead in Abu Dhabi.
Tyrrell Hatton, Jon Rahm, and Francesco Laporta share the tournament lead at 12 under par.
McIlroy rebounded following a first-round two-shot penalty assessed for improving his lie.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Rory McIlroy shot a 9-under 63 featuring 11 birdies on Friday to move to 11 under par at the Abu Dhabi Championship. He sits just one stroke behind leaders Tyrrell Hatton, Jon Rahm, and Francesco Laporta at Yas Links after two rounds of play.

The performance followed an opening-round two-shot penalty for improving his lie. McIlroy is also contending for the season-long Race to Dubai title alongside Eugenio Chacarra and Patrick Reed, aiming to match Colin Montgomerie's career mark of eight titles.

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McIlroy makes 11 birdies, one shot off lead in Abu Dhabi

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