DP World Tour Championship: Rory McIlroy boosts Race to Dubai hopes as Joost Luiten grabs shock early lead

Rory McIlroy made a strong start to his bid for a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title, as Joost Luiten grabbed a shock early lead at the DP World Tour Championship.

McIlroy, who needs to finish fourth or better to have a chance of surpassing Eugenio Chacarra in the season-long standings and win the Race to Dubai for an eighth time, carded an opening-round 69 at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

The world No 2 mixed five birdies with two bogeys in breezy conditions on the Earth Course, where he missed an eagle opportunity at the par-five last that would have moved him above Chacarra in the projected Race to Dubai standings.

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McIlroy sits in tied-third on three under and within two shots of Luiten, the last player in the field and 56th in the season rankings, who jumped top of the leaderboard after a five-under 67.

Jacob Skov Olesen briefly shared the lead but is one behind Luiten on four under, with Victor Perez, Gregorio De Leo, Freddy Schott and Francesco Laporta all two back alongside McIlroy, while Race to Dubai leader Chacarra opened with a level-par 72.

How McIlroy boosted Race to Dubai hopes

McIlroy can guarantee Race to Dubai victory by winning this event for a fourth time, with The Masters champion making the dream start by rolling in an eight-foot birdie at the first.

He responded to a three-putt par at the second by birdieing the par-three fourth, then bounced back from a sloppy three-putt from 15 feet at the fifth by taking advantage of the par-five seventh.

Chacarra was over-par until his three-birdie run from the seventh, seeing both reach the turn in 34, before McIlroy holed a birdie from the fringe to briefly get within two of the lead.

The leading pair in the Race to Dubai stumbled slightly over the closing stretch, with Chacarra making two bogeys in three holes from the 13th and McIlroy dropping a shot at the par-five 14th after missing the green with his third shot.

McIlroy hit a glorious approach to within 15 feet at the par-five last to leave a late eagle look, which would have seen him leapfrog Chacarra, although he had to settle for a two-putt birdie after leaving his effort short.

Several see Race to Dubai hopes fade

Luiten was in the first pair out on the opening morning and raced to the top of the leaderboard with a front-nine 31, then cancelled out back-to-back bogeys from the 11th by birdieing the 13th and 18th to reclaim top spot.

Olesen is also among those looking to secure PGA Tour membership - available to the top 10 eligible players in the Race to Dubai rankings, with the Dane's final-hole birdie getting him within one of Luiten, on a day where only 22 of the 50-man field finished under-par.

McIlroy was among nine players starting the week with a mathematical chance of topping the Race to Dubai rankings, but Jon Rahm and Daniel Hillier - who both carded one-under 71s - the only others to break par on the opening day.

Casey Jarvis, Jayden Schaper and Ryan Fox - who need a victory to have any chance of claiming No 1 - all started the week with a two-over 74, while major winner Aaron Rai struggled to an opening-round 76.

Chacarra and McIlroy take positives from start

Rory McIlroy, following a three-under 69: "Anything in the 60s today I felt was a good score. And sort of held it together nicely when I needed to. It was nice to finish with a birdie at the last, and obviously in a pretty good position going into the next few days."

Race to Dubai leader Eugenio Chacarra: "I need to do a couple of things better to be able to have a chance on Sunday, and that's what I'm going to focus on. I think if I fix those, a little strategy-wise and I can putt a little better, I think I'm going to have a chance.

Joost Luiten, following his opening-round 67: "A good opening round. Had a great front nine, five under after nine, then you hope you can push on. The wind picked up and I made two annoying bogeys on 11 and 12. I'm quite happy finishing five under."

Who will win the Race to Dubai? Watch the DP World Tour Championship throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues Friday from 7am on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event. Get the latest Sky Sports deals or stream golf and more sport with no contract.

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