Rory McIlroy handed two shot penalty at Abu Dhabi Championship

Rory McIlroy received a two-shot penalty after the first round of the Abu Dhabi Championship, Radio Kerry and TheJournal.ie reported. The Northern Irishman was judged to have improved his lie on the 12th hole at Yas Links during his round on Thursday. [1][2][3]

The stroke penalty altered McIlroy's initial first-round score of 68 to a two-under-par 70, according to Radio Kerry and TheJournal.ie. The penalty adjusted his score on the 12th hole from a double-bogey to a quadruple-bogey, placing him in a tie for 33rd place. [1][2][3]

The Irish Times reported that the penalty presents a setback in McIlroy's pursuit of a record-equalling eighth order of merit title on the DP World Tour. The event in Abu Dhabi serves as the penultimate tournament of the tour season. [3]

McIlroy is a Northern Irish professional golfer and a former world number one who has won six major championships during his career, establishing himself as the first European player to complete the modern career grand slam. [13]