McIlroy gets two-shot penalty after Abu Dhabi lie ruling

Rory McIlroy received a two-shot penalty after the opening round of the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship on Thursday, changing his score from 68 to 70 after officials ruled that he had improved his lie on the 12th hole. The penalty turned his double bogey on the par-4 hole into a quadruple bogey and left him eight shots behind the leader, Francesco Laporta. Officials reviewed video showing McIlroy placing his wedge behind the ball, which lay in a divot in the rough after his chip rolled back down a slope. The footage showed grass behind the ball remaining flattened after he lifted the club. Officials determined that his actions improved the lie and applied the two-shot penalty after the round. McIlroy said he did not intend to improve his lie and did not believe he had pressed down on the grass. He said he was trying to assess whether he could play the ball with a 54-degree wedge. Although he disputed that he had committed a penalty, he accepted the ruling rather than risk appearing to have gained an advantage. The incident occurred after McIlroy’s approach at the 12th went beyond the green. His first chip came back down the hill, leaving the ball in a divot. He had made a double...