McIlroy’s 63 brings him within one after Abu Dhabi penalty

Rules officials assessed Rory McIlroy a two-shot penalty after reviewing footage of his opening round at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship, turning his six on the 12th hole into an eight and his 68 into a 70. McIlroy said he did not intend to improve his lie and accepted the ruling after officials determined that he had done so. The penalty left him eight shots behind Francesco Laporta after Thursday’s first round. The incident occurred on the par-four 12th at Yas Links, where McIlroy’s chip rolled back down a slope into a divot. Officials reviewed footage after his round and ruled that he had improved his lie. The ruling changed his score for the hole from a double bogey to a quadruple bogey. McIlroy said he had not believed he pressed down on the grass and was trying to assess the lie. He said he accepted the penalty because he did not want others to think he had gained an advantage. The footage-based ruling is consistently reported, but the supplied accounts do not independently establish his intent. Laporta led after the opening round with a 10-under 62. McIlroy’s 2-under 70 placed him eight shots back. McIlroy was chasing a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title, with...