Rory McIlroy received a two-shot penalty during the opening round of the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship on Thursday for improving his lie, tournament officials confirmed. The infraction occurred on the European Tour event at Yas Links in Abu Dhabi.
The penalty was assessed after McIlroy was deemed to have improved the conditions affecting his stroke, a violation of Rule 8.1a. The specific hole and circumstances were not immediately detailed in the initial report. McIlroy, a four-time major champion, was competing in his first event since the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai last season.
The Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship marks the start of the European Tour's Middle East swing. McIlroy's adjusted score following the penalty was not available at the time of publication.
