DP World Tour: Ryan Fox falters as Rory McIlroy takes first-round lead at Dubai Invitational

Ryan Fox plays during the DP World Tour Golf Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai. Photo / Getty Images

Rory McIlroy made a bright start to the new year as he fired a five-under par 66 to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the Dubai Invitational – with the Kiwi duo of Ryan Fox and Daniel Hillier left chasing the World No 2.

Fox shook off the rust in his first start of the 2026 season opening with a one-over 72. The two-time PGA winner in 2025 started strong with two birdies in his opening four holes before two dropped shots saw him even at the turn. Another birdie at the par four 12th was wiped out by a bogey at the next hole before a fourth bogey of the day at the penultimate hole.

Hillier had a much better start to the year, recording three birdies and a bogey, for a two-under 69.

That left Hillier three back from McIlroy.

The reigning Masters champion made seven birdies, edging to the top of the early leaderboard ahead of Spaniard David Puig and Scot Connor Syme.

McIlroy is targeting his eighth professional title in Dubai after four Dubai Desert Classic victories and three wins in the European Tour’s Tour Championship.

The Northern Irishman made six birdies on the back nine after starting on the 10th hole, before grinding his way to the clubhouse.

“It was good. I got off to a great start, played a very good first nine,” McIlroy said.

“And then the wind got up a little bit and felt like that front nine, which was our second nine, was the trickier one.”

McIlroy, who became only the sixth man to complete the career Grand Slam with his Masters triumph last April, said he has been working hard in the close-season and changed his set of irons.

“I like the work. I like the process. I enjoy doing challenging things,” he added.

“I think the more and more you do that, the more it just sort of becomes who you are. And I’ve done it for so long now that if I didn’t do it, it would feel pretty foreign at this point.”

McIlroy’s 2025 Ryder Cup-winning teammates Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood are three strokes back in a group at two-under, alongside former Masters winner Patrick Reed.