Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Masters Champion Rory McIlroy believe Brooks Koepka returns to PGA Tour indicates a decline life golf.
The five-time major champion made a quick comeback less than a month after his contract with the Saudi Arabian League expired a year early and was widely welcomed by many top professionals.
His departure prompted the PGA Tour to rewrite its rules to put him within a specific penalty framework and even provide an opportunity for other big-name players. Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm And Cam Smith returns.
McIlroy shot a 5-under 66 in the first round of the year to take the lead at the Dubai Invitational and said it was indicative of the state of the game.
“They haven’t made any big signings this year, have they?” the Northern Irishman told daily telegraph.
“They haven’t signed anyone to move the needle and I don’t think they will.
“I mean, they could spend hundreds of millions of dollars re-signing Bryson, but even if they did, it wouldn’t change their product, would it?
“They’re just going to pay for the same thing. And they lost Brooks.”
McIlroy switched from blade irons to cavity-back irons for the new season, the type used by the vast majority of amateur golfers because they are more forgiving, and he was pleased with the switch at Dubai Creek Resort.
“If I need help, I’ll definitely take it. I’ve been thinking about it for a while,” he told sky sports.
“I got a new golf ball this week, but overall I like what I see at home and today was a good test of it and I feel like everything is fine. Overall, it’s a great way to start the new year.”
When McIlroy arrived at the turn at 5-under 31, he seemed to grasp the new setup immediately.
He was inches away from an eagle starting on the 10th hole, but it set the tone for the first of seven birdies in 10 holes as he hit his wedge inside 11 feet on the five par-4s.
His only blemish was missing short putts on the 12th and 3rd holes, where he drove into a greenside bunker and was unable to escape the sand, but more frustration ensued as he was forced to go home with par.
Play was suspended midway through the day in memory of young golfer Emanuele Galeppini, who will captain this year’s Dubai Creek junior team, and the 39 other people who died in the Crans Montana fire in Switzerland on New Year’s Day.
Scotland’s Conoy Syme and Spain’s David Puig trail England by one stroke Matt WallaceHe had an eagle and six birdies over nine holes to finish in the group at three under after losing a ball late in the round.
PA
