Rory McIlroy was cruising during the second round of the Dubai Invitational before making a devastating quadruple bogey seven on a par-3.
Rory McIlroy was absolutely cruising during the second round of the Dubai Invitational until disaster struck.
Armed with a new driver, 3-wood and putter, the Northern Irishman raced out of the blocks at Dubai Creek Resort.
The 34-year-old subsequently said he surprised himself after firing a faultless, bogey-free opening round of 9-under 62.
Well, McIlroy seems to be a human, and he proved it on the eighth hole in the second round.
Back-to-back birdies at the third and fourth hole had lifted McIlroy to 11-under for the tournament.
But when he made his way to the ninth tee box he was back to 7-under.
The eighth hole is a pretty tricky one, even for the professionals. From the tips it plays 214 yards and the pin was tucked in the back left.
McIlroy saw his towering tee shot find a watery grave and from there things didn’t get much better. His second? Also in the water.
Playing five from the drop zone, McIlroy found the middle of the green but couldn’t sink the putt. A seven! Brutal.
Clips of the moment began to circulate online, and this was perhaps the best one from the Swedish broadcast.
McIlroy ‘not ready’ to make Keith Pelley judgement
Yesterday was a busy news day for the DP World Tour with the confirmation of Keith Pelley’s departure as CEO.
Guy Kinnings will take over for Pelley, and reactions to his departure were not entirely unanimous.
When asked about his assessment of Pelley’s tenure following his opening round, McIlroy told Golf Digest he wasn’t prepared to evaluate his term in office.
McIlroy informed the newspaper, “We’ll be able to judge just how good he has been in maybe 18 months.”