Rory McIlroy opened with a two-under-par 70 on a rain-affected first day of the DP World India Championship at Delhi Golf Club, positioning himself tied for 13th in the early leaderboard. The Northern Irish golfer, who recently confirmed his participation in the upcoming DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in November, was four shots behind the clubhouse leader after a round disrupted by heavy rainfall and multiple stoppages.

Denmark’s Niklas Norgaard led the field after posting an impressive six-under-par 66. Norgaard’s round featured six birdies and an eagle, offset by two bogeys, giving him a one-shot advantage over a group of three players including Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin, Belgium’s Thomas Detry, and Spain’s Eugenio Chacarra. McIlroy, a six-time major champion, recorded four birdies and two bogeys across the par-72 course, which is noted for its narrow fairways and proximity to historic Mughal-era tombs.

Tommy Fleetwood, the defending champion and Dubai resident, matched McIlroy’s score at two under after scoring four birdies and two bogeys, but his round was marred by a double bogey on the final hole. Fleetwood described his start as “solid” but not exceptional, while McIlroy called his opening day “solid” with plenty of golf still to be played over the remaining 54 holes.

The weather significantly impacted the tournament, as play was suspended multiple times, forcing some competitors, including 2026 Dubai Desert Classic winner Patrick Reed, to pause their rounds. Reed was two over par through four holes when play was halted.

Delhi Golf Club, a course shorter than modern standards at just under 7,000 yards, challenges players with its tight fairways and thick vegetation. The layout emphasizes precision over distance, standing out as a throwback to traditional golf course design.

Among those in contention, Eugenio Chacarra expressed his ambitions for the Race to Dubai standings, acknowledging the high level of competition. “It’s a goal that I have on my team now, try to make a push in the last four events to try to win it,” the Spaniard said. “Obviously, I got two guys, one behind, one in front, they’re world-class players and the best players in the world. So it’s not going to be easy. I need to play my A-game and see where that takes me.”

The tournament continues, with players looking to navigate the challenging conditions and the narrow layout in pursuit of crucial points and prize money ahead of the season finale.