Jumeirah Golf Estates is typically a happy hunting ground for Rory McIlroy, but it was anything but that during the opening round of the DP World Tour Championship.
McIlroy struggled to a 3-over 75 to open the European Tour's season finale, a score that left him nine shots behind Lee Westwood and ahead of only three players in the 60-man field. It also marked McIlroy's first over-par score on the Earth Course in 29 competitive rounds, where his previous high was an even-par 72.
McIlroy bogeyed his opening hole and three of his first six to begin the day in a bit of a hole.