EYES ON THE GOAL Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland lines up a putt on the ninth hole during the first round of the Hero World Challenge at Albany Golf Course on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in Nassau (December 3 in Manila). AFP PHOTOMIAMI: Rory McIlroy fired a six-under par 66 to share the lead with American Daniel Berger and Mexico's Abraham Ancer after Thursday's (Friday in Manila) opening round of the 22nd Hero World Challenge. Four-time major winner McIlroy, playing the 20-man invitational event for the first time since 2013, made clutch pars at 16 and 18 to keep his place among the leaders at the Albany resort in the Bahamas. Americans Webb Simpson, Brooks Koepka and Justin Thomas shared fourth on 67, with Thomas stumbling out of the lead due to a closing double bogey. World number eight McIlroy birdied three of the first five holes but stumbled with a double bogey at the ninth.

Source: Manila Times December 04, 2021 04:08 UTC