Rory McIlroy plays smart, skips driver in India debut

New Delhi: Rory McIlroy swapped power for precision as he teed off in India for the first time, opening with a composed three-under 69 at the DP World India Championship in Delhi on Thursday.

Fresh from his Ryder Cup heroics three weeks ago, the Northern Irishman faced a very different test at the historic Delhi Golf Club — a par-72 course that measures under 7,000 yards but punishes even the slightest inaccuracy.

Known for his booming 350-yard drives, McIlroy made a bold move by leaving his driver behind, relying instead on his irons throughout the round. “Dog was out of the bag — probably asleep in the locker,” he joked afterward. “There’s just no hole out there to hit it more than 270 off the tee.”

The narrow, tree-lined fairways and dense vegetation forced players to favor control over aggression. McIlroy’s strategy paid off for much of the day as he carded six birdies against three bogeys, staying within striking distance of the leaders.

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Japan’s Keita Nakajima led the early field with a sparkling seven-under 65, firing eight birdies in a near-flawless round. Spain’s Jorge Campillo followed closely with a 67, while a tight pack of players sat at four-under.

Despite a few slips in the thick Delhi rough, McIlroy remained upbeat about his start. “You just have to get the ball in the fairway. The rough is unpredictable — you get a lot of fliers,” he said.

The $4 million championship, part of the DP World Tour, has drawn a stellar field featuring Ryder Cup teammates Tommy Fleetwood, Viktor Hovland and Shane Lowry, alongside PGA Tour regulars Brian Harman and Ben Griffin.

McIlroy, four shots off the lead, will look to sharpen his accuracy over the next three rounds as he chases his first title on Indian soil — in a tournament where strategy, not strength, could decide the winner.