Page 19 - Aruba Today
P. 19
SPORTS A19
Friday 22 January 2016
McIlroy upstages Spieth in Abu Dhabi; US amateur takes lead
STEVE DOUGLAS a “bit odd.” Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland strikes the ball at the 14th fairway during the round one of Abu
AP Sports Writer “The guys behind us hadn’t Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016.
ABU DHABI, United Arab even reached the fairway,
Emirates (AP) — Jordan on a par 5,” said Spieth, (AP Photo/Martin Dokoupil)
Spieth was aggrieved at who acknowledged that
being given a warning for he had taken extra time to
slow play, and complained line up the putt.
that his tee shots were It was the first round since
“short and crooked.” the European Tour modi-
But after his opening round fied its Pace of Play policy
of the Abu Dhabi Cham- — and officials made an
pionship on Thursday, the example of the biggest
top-ranked Spieth’s big- name in golf.
gest concern might just “Sometimes referees have
be the sublime form of his to use a bit of common
playing partner. sense,” said McIlroy, who
Rory McIlroy got the better sympathized with Spieth.
of Spieth in their first head- There were no such prob-
to-head of 2016, using his lems for another 22-year-
power and accuracy with old American.
the driver to set up a 6-un- DeChambeau was mak-
der 66 that put him two ing only his seventh start
shots off the lead held by in a professional event but
American amateur Bryson showed no nerves in shoot-
DeChambeau. ing seven birdies and an
Spieth, who scrambled eagle for a 64 to lead a
well to shoot a 68, made stellar field. Henrik Stenson
an early-season statement (65) was a shot behind,
two weeks ago by winning with McIlroy and Branden
by eight strokes in Hawaii Grace a further stroke
to back up his stellar 2015. adrift.
McIlroy laid down a marker DeChambeau is one of
of his own in his first event of golf’s characters — call-
the year after a two-month ing himself the “Golf Sci-
break and laser eye sur- entist,” he has modified his
gery. irons to make them all the
“It was the Rory that I have same length, has two driver
seen win majors,” Spieth swings, puts his balls in Ep-
said. “It was spectacular. It som salts to establish which
was a pretty unbelievable of them are slightly flawed,
round on a very challeng- and wears a Ben Hogan-
ing golf course.” style flat cap.
McIlroy says his eye op- “I’m just growing in con-
eration in December will fidence and belief every
improve his ability to read single day,” said DeCham-
greens and that seemed beau, who is regarded as
to be the case, the No. one of the hottest young
3-ranked Northern Irish- players in the sport after
man making eight bird- also winning the U.S. Am-
ies — beginning on his first ateur and NCAA titles in
hole with a 20-footer. But it 2015.
was his driving that set him “Not too bad on one leg,”
apart on a warm, wind-free quipped Stenson, a runner-
morning in the gulf emirate. up in 2006.
“I was really excited to get McIlroy has also finished
going, especially playing in second in Abu Dhabi —
a group like that,” said the four times, in fact — and
No. 3-ranked McIlroy, who the course suits his game.
was also playing alongside He thrived in playing with
No. 6-ranked Rickie Fowler esteemed company and
(70). “Couldn’t be hap- said he took the way he
pier.” was hitting the ball on the
Spieth’s first round in a reg- range in Dubai last week
ular European Tour event onto the course.
was a mixed bag and “There’ve been times
ended with a brush with where it’s taken me at least
a rules official, who gave four or five days to find the
the American a “monitor- middle of the clubface (af-
ing penalty” for taking too ter a break) and there’ve
long over a putt on No. 8 been times where it’s taken
— his 17th hole. Spieth said me a couple of hours,” Mc-
the decision “didn’t make Ilroy said. “This time it’s the
any sense to me” and was latter.”q
