DP World Tour: Syme makes fine start as Master McIlroy leads after round one in Dubai

15 January 2026; SHANK, by Matt Hooper: Connor Syme made 2025 a year to remember by claiming the first DP World Tour win of his career at the KLM Dutch Open in June, but outside of this monumental moment the Drumoig-based Fifer had an inconsistent year, failing to contend for a PGA TOUR card and finishing 49th on the Race to Dubai.

The 30-year-old will surely be keen to improve significantly on that ranking and become a consistent winner in the game. On Thursday he made a promising beginning to 2026 with an opening round of 67 to sit 1 off the lead at the Dubai Creek and Yacht Club in the DUBAI Invitational.

Connor Syme / credit: Matt Hooper

Starting his round at the first hole Connor birdied the 4th and bogeyed the 7th to head out in a level par 35 before lighting up the back nine with birdies at 10, 11, 15 and 17. "Very, very pleased with that. I played very, very solid today" said Connor after his round. "Made a nice putt for par there on the last. Didn't really make many putts, to be honest with you. I really had my ball under control, so hopefully I can keep that up over the next few days.

And then obviously there's probably no better place to be at the moment than out here in Dubai. So very happy, and looking forward to a good stretch of tournaments.

I'm excited to put into play the kind of stuff I've been working on over the offseason. And yeah, obviously getting that win (last season) makes a big difference. Knowing you can do it is huge. Hopefully I can get myself back in those positions a bit more often, it'd be nice."

Connor begins round two at 0846 Dubai Time on Friday morning (0446 GMT).

The Scot is tied for second place with LIV Golf's rising star, David Puig, who made the journey from Florida and the LIV Golf Media Week, arriving at 11pm on Wednesday, but despite never having seen the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club before, the Spaniard played beautifully.

David Puig / credit: Matt Hooper

Puig has already won this season, claiming a dominant victory at the BMW Australian PGA Championship last month, and is hoping to contend when he gets the opportunity in the biggest DP World Tour events. The 24-year-old has taken up DP World Tour membership this year, and has confirmed he will pay the fines handed out to members playing in LIV Golf events without releases. Good finishes in both Dubai events could see Puig move inside the world's top 100, and wins could move him even higher as he bids to qualify for The Masters.

Incredibly Puig made a storming start, with birdies at the 2nd, 3rd and 4th holes, and a sole bogey at the 10th could not derail his momentum, bouncing back with birdies at the par-five 13th and the par-three 14th to move to 4-under-par. "I'm really happy, obviously. And didn't have a bunch of expectations, but played really solid. Hit it great off the tee, which I guess it's key here, and pretty happy.

Very pleased. Again, didn't have many expectations. Didn't really sleep very good at all last night, you know, got like maybe three hours. And, yeah, felt pretty tired throughout the day, but, again, was able to start really well, as you said. And really pleased with those three birdies. And kept playing pretty good overall, and super happy.

The fact of potentially playing the four days and playing with the amateurs as well, it makes it a little maybe not as stressful.

But obviously coming out to a great event, and wanted to be here. And to have guys like Rory and Tommy and Shane playing, and obviously you want to do well because it's a great event, but they're here too, so you really want to compete. And especially seeing Rory's name at the top pretty early, it kind of gets the juices going a little bit."

Syme and Puig lead the chasing pack, but both will have to overcome a fearsome rival to lift the trophy this week. Rory McIlroy has a new set of golf clubs, and a new ball in play this week, but it was same old, same old from the Masters Champion as he flew out of the traps with a 5-under-par back nine, beginning his round at the 10th hole.

Rory McIlroy / credit: Getty Images

He was inches from an opening eagle before he climbed to two under at the 11th with a close-range birdie at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club.

He slid a four-foot par putt by at the 12th, but responded immediately with birdies at the 13th and the par-three 14th thanks to a stunning tee-shot. The Northern Irishman took the outright lead at four under with another gain at the 17th and when finished his front nine with another birdie, he was two shots clear.

McIlroy was in relentless form as he rolled in his seventh birdie of the day, and third in a row, at the first to extend his advantage to three strokes at six under. His momentum stalled as he carded a dropped shot and seven pars to close his first round of the year in 66 and take the clubhouse lead at five under.

The Northern Irishman has won 4 Hero Dubai Desert Classic titles, and been victorious 3 times at Jumeirah Golf Estates in the DP World Tour Championship, so no doubt he would love to complete the unofficial Dubai Grand Slam with a win this week in the DUBAI Invitational.

"I got off to a great start, played a very good first nine" said McIlroy. "And then the wind got up a little bit and felt like that front nine, which was our second nine, was the trickier one. And made a silly bogey on three, and then didn't capitalise on the par-five after that.

So I felt like I left a few out on that side, but I played a really good nine holes of golf. Overall, a nice way to start the year."

Coverage of Round Two of the DUBAI Invitational is on Sky Sports Golf, Friday from 0730 GMT