Molinari leads Dubai Desert Classic after first day as McIlroy struggles

[p]Former British Open champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/molinari-francesco/t2ZfAIvl/"]Molinari[/a], now 418th in the world rankings, made eight birdies in a seven-under par 65.[/p][p]The 43-year-old Italian is two shots clear of Sweden's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lindberg-mikael/St0U5dTJ/"]Mikael Lindberg[/a], with Swiss player [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/girrbach-joel/d2oibrfE/"]Joel Girrbach[/a] and South African JC Ritchie a stroke further back.[/p][p]It was Molinari's lowest round on the European Tour since January 2024.[/p][p][b]"It's been a long time. I've changed everything, and then I've changed back," [/b]said the 2018 Ryder Cup winner, who has not won a professional title since the Arnold Palmer Invitational seven years ago.[/p][p][b]"Not super unexpected, but I wasn't expecting a score like that. Last week I felt very rusty, so I was hoping it would be very good prep for this week."[/b][/p][embed guid="9af202e1-725c-4cd5-b5db-73f46f4647e1" url="https://x.com/DPWorldTour/status/2014347319525667220" social-type="twitter" /][p]Molinari will have plenty of work to do to hang onto his lead with a host of top players in the field this week.[/p][p]Shane Lowry and defending champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hatton-tyrrell/nZnQbO2h/"]Tyrrell Hatton[/a], who played starring roles in Europe's Ryder Cup triumph at Bethpage Black last year, both made solid starts with two-under rounds of 70.[/p][p][b]"Standing here right now, I'm very happy with that score,"[/b] said England's Hatton after his first competitive round of the year.[/p][p][b]"It was pretty tough this morning. Feel like I hit some pretty scruffy golf shots, which in some ways is to be expected."[/b][/p][embed guid="c9ac174e-13a6-4835-8345-603eb8be1d7d" url="https://x.com/DPWorldTour/status/2014375004276957685" social-type="twitter" /][p]It was a disappointing day, though, for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mcilroy-rory/djwanksN/"]McIlroy[/a], who hit his approach shot on the par-five 18th hole into the water en route to a closing double-bogey.[/p][p]The Masters champion had earlier mixed three birdies with two bogeys.[/p][p]McIlroy will need to make a move on Friday to get into contention for a fifth title in the event, as will world number three Tommy Fleetwood, who also carded a one-over 73.[/p]