The DP World Tour Championship in Dubai is off to an exciting start! American Michael Kim leads the pack with a flawless 8-under-par round, but European stars Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood are hot on his trail. McIlroy, aiming for his 7th Race to Dubai title, began with a flying start, birdieing his first three holes. Fleetwood, a Ryder Cup stalwart, sits just one shot back. Join us as we break down the opening day’s action, including the impressive performances of Andy Sullivan, Thriston Lawrence, and more. Will McIlroy and Fleetwood’s partnership from the Ryder Cup translate to a successful chase in Dubai? Find out in this thrilling golf tournament.
American golf star Michael Kim makes a flying start in Dubai as Rory Mroy and Tommy Fleetwood lead the chase. Rory Mroy and Tommy Fleetwood have positioned themselves strongly behind first round leader Michael Kim at the season ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. The European stars are firmly in contention after the opening day with American Kim setting a blistering pace. Kim delivered a flawless eight under par 64 on the Earth Course at Jira Golf Estates, securing the outright lead. Rder Cup Stalwart Fleetwood sits just one shot back in second place following an impressive 65. Mroy, who is chasing a seventh race to Dubai title, is two shots off the lead in joint third after a six under 66. His round began with a flying start, birdieing his first three holes before dropping a shot on the fourth. Further birdies on the 7th, 10th, 11th, and 14th saw him finish alongside England’s Andy Sullivan and South Africa’s Thristen Lawrence. Another Englishman, Brandon Robinson Thompson, Denmark’s Nikolai Hodgegard, and New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier are a shot further a drift. Meanwhile, Justin Rose and Shane Lowry are among a large contingent on fourunder after rounds of 68. Mroy will clinch his seventh order of merit title if he finishes in the top two this week. His only remaining challengers for the prestigious award, English duo Marco Penge and Trell Hatton, currently find themselves tied in 43rd and 22nd place respectively after rounds of 74 and 70. It has been a stunning 2025 for Mroy after he completed the career grand slam by winning the Masters at Augusta in April. He followed that up by playing a key role in Europe’s Rder Cup triumph at Beth Page Black as Luke Donald’s team held off a USA fight back on the final day. Mroy and Fleetwood joined forces to good effect over that weekend, and both men will now hope to chase down Kim over the coming three days in Dubai.
