Francesco Laporta surges three clear with 62 in Abu Dhabi

Francesco Laporta took a three-shot lead at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship on November 5, shooting a 10-under-par 62 in the opening round at Yas Links. Jon Rahm, Sam Bairstow and Bernd Wiesberger were among the players tied behind him. The round put Laporta one stroke short of the course record of 61, Golfweek and The National reported.

How Laporta built his 62

Laporta was one under after four holes, then played the next nine in nine under. He described the stretch as feeling like “a video game,” saying his shots were going straight, putts were dropping and he kept giving himself chances.

McIlroy’s penalty reshapes his opening score

Rory McIlroy and Race to Dubai leader Eugenio Chacarra each signed for two-under 70. Patrick Reed, second in the standings, finished two over after a double bogey at the last. Laporta had started the day 57th in the standings, The National reported.

McIlroy’s 70 included a two-shot penalty at the 12th. The National reported that his chip had rolled back into a divot and that officials showed him video after the round before ruling he had pressed down grass behind the ball. The ruling changed the hole from a double bogey to a quadruple bogey. McIlroy said he did not feel he had pressed down, but accepted the penalty because he did not want people to think he had got away with an advantage.

The Race to Dubai places at stake

The opening scores come with a standings race alongside the tournament. Golfweek reported that the top 50 in the Race to Dubai after Sunday’s final round will qualify for the DP World Tour Championship the following week in Dubai. Chacarra led the standings and Reed was second before the Abu Dhabi event, according to The National.

Chacarra’s preparation had also been disrupted: The National reported that he cracked his driver during the pro-am on the day before the first round. Both he and McIlroy ended the day eight shots behind Laporta, while Reed was 12 back.