Rory McIlroy has gotten off to a hot start at the Dubai Desert Classic and sits in 12th place heading into Friday, although torrential rain resulted in only 15 holes of his first round being played.
In an ironic twist given the name of the event, a deluge of rain led to a six-hour delay of play on Thursday. When the course was finally deemed playable, McIlroy shot an impressive two-under-par through 15 holes.
Only 18 competitors finished their first round on Thursday, meaning more than 100 golfers face an early start and a long day on Friday.
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Tempers may have been hot coming into this event, with McIlroy and LIV star Patrick Reed involved in a now infamous tee-throwing incident on the driving range in the build-up to Thursday's first round, but a downpour of massive proportions put a dampener to proceedings.
Beginning on the 10th, McIlroy opened with a Birdie before dropping shots at the 12th and 15th. He bounced back with a Birdie at 18 to make the turn in at level par.
A pair of Birdies at the 2nd and 3rd got the 33-year-old fired up as he raced against the fading light. Play was ultimately halted on the seventh hole, and when McIlroy resumes on Friday, he will have a four-foot look at Birdie.
Elsewhere, Padraig Harrington struggled with the conditions and the delay and is rooted to the foot of the leaderboard having been 8-over par for his 13 holes.
Shane Lowry is set for a long day on Friday having been unable to tee-off on Thursday due to the desperate weather.
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