DUBAI, United Arab Emirates– Patrick Reed got on much better than Rory McIlroy after some pre-tournament rubbing as the Dubai Desert Classic left to a damp begin on Thursday, with just 11 gamers taking care of to complete their weather-affected first rounds.
Play just started at the European trip occasion after a hold-up of 6 hrs brought on by hefty over night rainfall that left the training course unplayable at Emirates Golf Club.
By the moment the alarm appeared to put on hold play since of fading light, Reed was 4-under-par after 16 openings as well as top-ranked McIlroy was 2-under, having actually played 15 openings.
Thomas Pieters was leading at 5-under, though he likewise had 3 openings to play. Three English gamers: Matthew Jordan, Daniel Gavins as well as Oliver Wilson, held the club lead after capturing rounds of 4-under 68.
“It’s certainly strange around here,” Jordan said of the wet conditions, ” to see water risks as well as things in areas that you do not anticipate it to be.”
Reed as well as McIlroy traded barbs Wednesday after a communication of kinds at the technique variety on Tuesday that saw McIlroy snub Reed, that had actually visited desire the Northern Irishman a satisfied brand-new year. Reed left after throwing a tee including a logo design of his 4 Aces group in the LIV Golf organization in the instructions of McIlroy, one of one of the most singing movie critics of the Saudi- run breakaway collection.
Reed claimed it was “unfortunate” that McIlroy didn’t shake his hand and was quoted as describing McIlroy as ” a premature kid.”
It has actually established the scene for a prospective on-course head-to-head in Dubai in between 2 of golf’s most top-level gamers. It really did not come Thursday, with McIlroy beginning atNo 10 in his first occasion of 2023 as well as Reed opening up at the first opening.
McIlroy bogeyed 2 of his first 6 openings after leaving chips from the edge short. He rose as well as below a greenside shelter for birdie atNo 18, got much more chance atsNo 2 as well as 3, as well as was aligning a birdie putt from within 4 feet onNo 7 when the alarm went off.
Reed birdied 3 of his first 5 openings as well as recoiled from a bogey atNo 10 by holing brief birdie putts atNos 12 as well as 14.
Tommy Fleetwood (15 openings) as well as Victor Perez (16 openings), that won the Abu Dhabi Championship recently, were likewise on 4-under when they needed to leave the training course.
Half the area had yet to hop on the training course as well as will certainly begin their first roundsFriday Players were notified in the very early hrs of Thursday early morning that Emirates Golf Club was “inaccessible” and told not to travel to the course due to several roads being flooded following heavy rain.
Play finally got underway following a few hours of dry weather and a massive cleanup operation by ground staff.
“It’s hard, “Jordan claimed. “I indicate, it behaved to see that at 5.20 a.m. I can curtail over in bed as well as have a lie-in. So that behaved.”
