GOLF – Joost Luiten fired his lowest round at the Earth Course since 2016 to earn a one-shot lead over Jacob Skov Olesen after the opening day yesterday of the $10 million DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, the UAE.
As the last man to earn his place in the 50-man field, Luiten got the DP World Tour Championship underway with the opening tee shot and quickly set the pace on his way to a five-under 67.
Heading into this week at 56th on the Race to Dubai Rankings, the Dutchman admitted he had nothing to lose as he strung together seven birdies and two bogeys and is now currently projected as high as fourth.
The six-time DP World Tour winner capped off an opening nine of 31 with back-to-back birdies to reach five-under at the turn, before bouncing back from bogeys at the 11th and 12th holes with another gain at the 13th.
A final birdie of the day at the last led him to an opening 67.
While Luiten isn’t in the running for the Race to Dubai title, he is currently projected to move as high as fourth, which would guarantee him one of the 10 cards offering dual membership on the PGA Tour next season.
Another player with plenty to play for this week is Olesen, who also birdied his final hole of the day to card a four-under par 68.
Rory McIlroy headlines a group one shot further back, alongside Victor Perez, Gregorio De Leo, Freddy Schott, and Francesco Laporta, having made a birdie on his final hole to card an opening 69.
Race to Dubai leader Eugenio Chacarra, who is making just his second appearance at the season finale, had mixed fortunes on day one, making four birdies and four bogeys for a level par 72.
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