McIlroy shares lead with Hatton to take control in Race to Dubai contest

Rory McIlroy strengthened his grip on the Harry Vardon Trophy after an opening round of 67 saw him share the first-round lead with Tyrrell Hatton at the DP World Tour Championship.

It is a two-horse race at the top of the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex, with the 35-year-old starting the season-ending event in Dubai with a healthy lead of 1,785.02 points over South Africa's Thriston Lawrence.

With 2,000 points on offer for the winner, McIlroy only needs a top ten finish to secure a sixth Race to Dubai crown of his career - which would match the tally of his father Gerry's idol Seve Ballesteros.

Playing partners Hatton and Paul Waring, who sealed the biggest victory of his career at last week's Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, hit the front at four under after they each birdied the 14th hole, but the Northern Irishman followed suit shortly after.

Hatton became the first person to reach five under with a brilliant birdie at the penultimate hole, only to be matched by McIlroy's 48-foot putt at the same hole to share the lead with the Englishman on the Earth course.

48ft birdie making use of all the hole 😉

Rory hits the front! #DPWTC | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/7WsGtK13d4

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 14, 2024