Rory McIlroy's strong start to 2026 with new irons as Connor Syme also shines in Dubai

In his first outing of the year in the Dubai Invitational, the world No 2 ditched his trusty blades for TaylorMade cavity-back irons and the transition was seamless as he shot a five-under-par 66 to lead at the end of the opening round at Dubai Creek Resort.

In an encouraging start to the new calendar campaign on the DP World Tour, Connor Syme took pride of place among four Scots in the 60-man field as he stormed home in 32 to sign for a 67 to sit in a share of second alongside Spaniard David Puig.

But, not for the first time in his career, it was McIlroy who shone brightest in the Middle East sunshine and the Northern Irishman laughed in a post-round interview with Tim Barter on Sky Sports Golf when asked if his decision to start out with new irons this year was a sign that he was human, after all, and needed help just like club golfers do.

Happy to take ‘help if it’s there’

“If there's help to be had, I'll definitely take it,” he declared after signing for an effort that contained seven birdies, including three in a row in an eye-catching burst around the turn after starting at the tenth.

“Yeah, I've been thinking about it for a while. And even in Dubai at the end of last year (in the DP World Tour Championship), I hit a couple of 5-irons that I mis-struck slightly, and instead of it maybe coming up five or seven yards short, it was coming up more like ten to 15 yards short.

“So I asked the guys at TaylorMade to build me a set. And I actually went down to Australia with them, and with that firm turf down there, I felt like those irons were going through the turf better than the blades. And I practised with them at home since.

“I've got a new golf ball in play this week as well, the new 2026 ball. So overall, I like what I've seen at home, and today was a good test for it, and I felt like everything was pretty good.”

Playing alongside Shane Lowry, who was also pleased with an opening 69, McIlroy hit majestic approaches to three, three and 11 feet for three of his birdies in his bid to make amends for being pipped at the post by Tommy Fleetwood in this event two years ago after having one hand on the trophy before finishing with a bogey.

“Yeah, it was good,” added the five-time major of his day’s work on his return to the UAE for the first time since claiming a seventh Race to Dubai title in November. “I got off to a great start, played a very good first nine. And then the wind got up a little bit and felt like that front nine, which was our second nine, was the trickier one.

“Made a silly bogey on three (a short par 4) and then didn't capitalise on the par-5 after that. So I felt like I left a few out on that side, but I played a really good nine holes of golf. Overall, a nice way to start the year.”

Syme, who recorded his breakthrough win on the circuit in last year’s KLM Open, was out in level par before transforming his day by picking up birdies at the tenth, 11th, 15th and 17th coming home.

“Yeah, very, very pleased with that,” admitted the Drumoig-based player. “I played very, very solid today. Didn’t really make many putts but made a nice putt for par there on the last putt. I really had my ball under control, so hopefully I can keep that up over the next few days.”

Sore finish for Scot Grant Forrest after fast start

After being out in front for a spell thanks to an eye-catching start as he birdied four of his first five holes, Grant Forrest had to settle for a par-71 following a sore triple-bogey 7 to finish. With five birdies on his card, Calum Hill signed for a 70 to sit in the top 20 while Dubai-based Ewen Ferguson opened his year with a 72.

As he did in the final round when winning the inaugural edition in 2024, Fleetwood finished birdie-birdie to post a 69 after he’d been on the back foot earlier in the round following a double-bogey 6 at the second.

In a nice touch, play was paused at 10.30 local time to remember young Italian golfer Emanuele Galeppini, who was due to be junior captain at Dubai Creek this year, and the 39 other people who died in a fire in Crans Montana, Switzerland, on New Year’s Day.