![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QEUYZQHXDNGAVP7RPPU4VMXNUM.jpeg?smart=true&auth=66ae45c7efc72c733c8db87e56cbf2012ee0877e756ad9061cb595d6ce47c1f3&width=400&height=225)
A new water hazard has emerged next to the fifth hole on the Majlis Course.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F5YPPSKS2JY5OFFHB6MPADXXA4.jpg?smart=true&auth=235f893a13813cfdcfcb298d254a1c9e4220d5683289fb323d7a94722de67c31&width=400&height=225)
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Tommy Fleetwood of England smile on course during Day Two of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on January 27, 2023. Getty Images
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Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland looks across the 9th hole during Day Two of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. Getty Images
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Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland retrieves his ball after holing his second shot for an eagle on the 8th hole at Emirates Golf Club. Getty Images
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Rory McIlroy plays his second shot for an eagle on the 8th hole. Getty Images
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Rory McIlroy reacts after shooting for an eagle on the 8th hole. Getty Images
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Thomas Pieters of Belgium tees off on the 9th hole. Getty Images
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Thomas Pieters of Belgium putts the ball. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AECAHEUBDQ5MMMXHFBG3RSZBCY.jpg?smart=true&auth=3b795c9b4d2382ee3ecda462bebff15ef3f04890cb966e4c43d2e8960bf95dab&width=400&height=225)
Thomas Pieters of Belgium tees off on the 8th hole. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HQVL6XQ5EFSTB7RXIKDQUSYW2I.jpg?smart=true&auth=4512257a010d8574bcce360a331bd2e0bf46ac8de29e5422ba215d5c0adde915&width=400&height=225)
Patrick Reed of the USA looks on during the first round on the second day of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. EPA
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Min Woo Lee of Australia, Thomas Pieters of Belgium and Victor Perez of France walk from the 8th tee. Getty Images
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Victor Perez of France throws a ball to his Caddie on the 9th green. Getty Images
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Ludvig Aberg of Sweden tees off on the 8th hole. Getty Images
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Tommy Fleetwood of England reacts ahead of a drop by the 9th hole green. Getty Images
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Staff at Emirates Golf Club ready the course for Day 2 of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic after more overnight rain. All photos: Paul Radley / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EFJISAJPYFBUJITQUVXSZ6UCJM.jpeg?smart=true&auth=8e5c719be9fbaa4ef34dbf177f4f3f885d7ae73b9334e8bf69549a2c9011f023&width=400&height=225)
A new water hazard has emerged next to the fifth hole on the Majlis Course.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QEUYZQHXDNGAVP7RPPU4VMXNUM.jpeg?smart=true&auth=66ae45c7efc72c733c8db87e56cbf2012ee0877e756ad9061cb595d6ce47c1f3&width=400&height=225)
A new water hazard has emerged next to the fifth hole on the Majlis Course.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F5YPPSKS2JY5OFFHB6MPADXXA4.jpg?smart=true&auth=235f893a13813cfdcfcb298d254a1c9e4220d5683289fb323d7a94722de67c31&width=400&height=225)
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Tommy Fleetwood of England smile on course during Day Two of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on January 27, 2023. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QHMEAA7QK2E6UY2ZI6VAS6E4WI.jpg?smart=true&auth=1d563d4ac6df6f843db5b8c51334e923204b9e5d804e09b2f7c77534d85ba300&width=400&height=225)
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland looks across the 9th hole during Day Two of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZV4X2F6IBHNLPV4JQAOKZ6FHK4.jpg?smart=true&auth=929b0553c03e587907195096b03d95847fd6f5ec21f139a52ce52b38d186441f&width=400&height=225)
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland retrieves his ball after holing his second shot for an eagle on the 8th hole at Emirates Golf Club. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MCKZFK6JDYQNDUQW62VE5P7TPY.jpg?smart=true&auth=1687ec455fc42c62de6e282cd7e946493a8bbdf08ae80025a13ca34c091e5af1&width=400&height=225)
Rory McIlroy plays his second shot for an eagle on the 8th hole. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ERSA7Z2C7BU3WLJ3CRSQQIKKJY.jpg?smart=true&auth=2531dcfa3ee7245912d082a19c840d338243fbe918d19f055269373c8eb3642b&width=400&height=225)
Rory McIlroy reacts after shooting for an eagle on the 8th hole. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PKDJLMTIXRCQWHRQYCLMAIR4DU.jpg?smart=true&auth=e83d82938c01fd637410863909fddc6723dbbe29fd37fd7201ab5904464cf9d4&width=400&height=225)
Thomas Pieters of Belgium tees off on the 9th hole. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BSZEUOJYTDNIPEZPEGU6GGMYFY.jpg?smart=true&auth=f59cb656423e8e80b4746a7c4a877630b70ab2fb3cfe8d1656b90da719faf150&width=400&height=225)
Thomas Pieters of Belgium putts the ball. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AECAHEUBDQ5MMMXHFBG3RSZBCY.jpg?smart=true&auth=3b795c9b4d2382ee3ecda462bebff15ef3f04890cb966e4c43d2e8960bf95dab&width=400&height=225)
Thomas Pieters of Belgium tees off on the 8th hole. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HQVL6XQ5EFSTB7RXIKDQUSYW2I.jpg?smart=true&auth=4512257a010d8574bcce360a331bd2e0bf46ac8de29e5422ba215d5c0adde915&width=400&height=225)
Patrick Reed of the USA looks on during the first round on the second day of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ONWMBNS7FCYAEHVGC6HPCNBLBU.jpg?smart=true&auth=6d419a690054993c4c9a93580104bb4a378b51508545e1e029d5532a514af345&width=400&height=225)
Min Woo Lee of Australia, Thomas Pieters of Belgium and Victor Perez of France walk from the 8th tee. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LNJ32UFIN4WWLJBFLTEWJ2I4UQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=1329460cbf0ae30c1211705cfb6fbc388a1b8b90ad49a80e2cdc15a0a69bdace&width=400&height=225)
Victor Perez of France throws a ball to his Caddie on the 9th green. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EUBBGNHVINMV534PJ6N53PUWVE.jpg?smart=true&auth=fbc1229d8dce3853d12458a406c3852cb904d817dd22785391a360eda1c9d240&width=400&height=225)
Ludvig Aberg of Sweden tees off on the 8th hole. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/THVRWXO5WAQU76LGTAAA4JNB7M.jpg?smart=true&auth=1157f56d97e29f8afba7d359da36b7e63c2fd26ffaca6b6741f074093be8a2cc&width=400&height=225)
Tommy Fleetwood of England reacts ahead of a drop by the 9th hole green. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IMA7DXD7T5E37ECARA3BQC25Q4.jpeg?smart=true&auth=7171566a72312b2418c7d12a426139179b2d4f0b924fae7650e95e918e063403&width=400&height=225)
Staff at Emirates Golf Club ready the course for Day 2 of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic after more overnight rain. All photos: Paul Radley / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EFJISAJPYFBUJITQUVXSZ6UCJM.jpeg?smart=true&auth=8e5c719be9fbaa4ef34dbf177f4f3f885d7ae73b9334e8bf69549a2c9011f023&width=400&height=225)
A new water hazard has emerged next to the fifth hole on the Majlis Course.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QEUYZQHXDNGAVP7RPPU4VMXNUM.jpeg?smart=true&auth=66ae45c7efc72c733c8db87e56cbf2012ee0877e756ad9061cb595d6ce47c1f3&width=400&height=225)
A new water hazard has emerged next to the fifth hole on the Majlis Course.
Hero Dubai Desert Classic: Rory McIlroy returns to finish opening round with a flourish
A birdie on the 7th was followed by an eagle on the 8th at the Majlis Course as world No 1 cards a 66 round for 6-under par and a share of the lead
![Paul Radley](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F4bea718a-3833-459d-b22e-394141107aed.png?smart=true&auth=9b0d25df28459c73830f10d00934933c01a577dee63bf7a45b39f23e0bdb9f75&width=70&height=70)
Paul Radley
27 January, 2023
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