Rory McIlroy led on the course as the Dubai Invitational remembered the Crans-Montana fire victims.
Here is everything you need to know from the first round at Dubai Creek Resort.
McIlroy roars into lead
The World Number Two looked as though he would run away with the tournament after recording seven birdies and a bogey after ten holes, resulting in a three-shot lead at that point. His momentum stalled with just a dropped shot and seven pars to show for the rest of his round as he carded an opening round of 66 but he remained one ahead of David Puig and Connor Syme overnight at five under. McIlroy revealed he has new irons and a new ball for the 2026 season and he was happy with his first round in Dubai. "If there's help to be had, I'll definitely take it!" he said. "I've been thinking about it for a while so I asked the guys at TaylorMade to build me up a set. 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 and 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."
Dubai Creek Resort remembers Crans-Montana fire victims
There was a minute's silence held at 13.30pm for the 40 victims of the Crans-Montana fire during New Year celebrations, which included rising Italian talent Emanuele Galeppini, who was about to start his tenure as Junior Captain at Dubai Creek Resort. Black ribbons were worn by players, caddies and DP World Tour staff as a mark of respect.
Lindell's birdie blitz
Finland's Oliver Lindell reached the ninth hole at level par following a birdie at the fourth and bogey at the sixth, but he transformed his opening round when he picked up a shot from eight feet to complete his front nine. Lindell added another from three feet at the tenth and completed a hat-trick of birdies at the 11th as his putter got hot. Two more efforts from six feet at the 12th and 13th saw him climb to five under alongside McIlroy. A double bogey at the last saw him finish with an opening 68.
Wallace feeling chipper
Matt Wallace made a slow start in Dubai, but he certainly made amends with this brilliant chip-in eagle at the fourth. Five birdies in the next seven took the Englishman into the lead at seven under before a tricky finish dropped him back to three under, sharing fourth place with Lindell, Spaniard Angel Ayora and French duo Antoine Rozner and Julien Guerrier.
