Rory McIlroy on Thursday opened up a sizable lead on Thriston Lawrence as he looks to close out a sixth Race to Dubai title.
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RoryMcIlroyonThursdayopenedupasizableleadonThristonLawrenceashelookstocloseoutasixthRacetoDubaititle.
Foremostonhismindisclosingoutthetournament.
Atoneofhispersonalplaygrounds,McIlroystartedwitha5-under67attheDPWorldTourChampionshiptosharetheopening-dayleadwithTyrrellHatton.
McIlroy,whoalreadyhasacomfortableleadintheseason-longstandings,needstofinishsolo11thorbetterinDubaitomovealongsideSeveBallesterosontheall-timelist.
Lawrencestruggledtoa73onDay1andisinatiefor37thinthe50-manfield.
“Iwanttogoonfromhereandwinthegolftournament,”McIlroysaidafterward.“I’veopenedupwithareallygoodscore,butIneedtogooutandplaysimilarlyoverthesethreedays–notjusttrytowinthetournament,butalsotrytogetthejobdoneintheRacetoDubai.
“I’mundernoillusionthatthatwasprobablyThriston’sworstday.Ifhegoesoutandhasthreegoodones,Istillneedtogooutthereandplaysomeverysolidgolf.”
TheworldNo.3hasthreeworldwi
