World Hero Challenge Leaderboard: Rory McIlroy draws three to lead after Round 1

For the third time in a row since the Ryder Cup in September, Rory McIlroy is threatening to win a golf tournament. McIlroy won the CJ Cup in October and nearly knocked him out of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai in November. He now shares the 6th place Hero World Challenge lead with Abraham Ancer and Daniel Berger.

McIlroy said after his inning that his game felt sharp and has insisted he found something after that Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits.

“Three games starting since the Ryder Cup have been really good, I shot a good, low score,” he said. “Yeah, the feeling of the game is so much better and it’s just another…other chance to argue and feel that, you know, how do you feel on Sunday when you’re trying to win the game? win a golf tournament.”

After hitting the field at just 35 years old with three birdies and a brace, McIlroy came back perfect and made a 2nd eagle in 14th par-4. He’s clearly always been a threat to win any tournament he enters, but his game is particularly under control right now and he’s the new favorite here. at +333, according to Caesar’s Sportsbook.

The only beggar for him? It was the beginning of December, not the end of March.

“I wish it was a different time of year the way I’m playing, but there’s no reason I can’t start over in January and continue playing the way I’m playing,” McIlroy said. “I’m still going to stay positive for the next few weeks, I’m not going to close the clubs completely for a few weeks. Maybe two or three times a week, I’ll be out there playing and training, just maybe not take a full break like I did before because my game is in good shape and I want to keep it there.”

Here are the rest of the standings after Round 1 of the Hero World Challenge.

T1. Rory McIlroy, Daniel Berger, Abraham Ancer (-6): Berger has been great all year and is barely flying in sight. He has a top 10 out of 19 starts in 2021, and although he came in 18-1 to win this tournament, that number has dropped to 8-1 with 54 holes left. again. It could also be better for him. He was 7 under 11 holes and played more than 7 in 1 last time. He’s definitely not someone I want to see over the weekend. The short game is great, he has a lot of sustaining power and he is a monster when it comes to competing with the rest of the best players in the world.

T4. Webb Simpson, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka (-5): JT was disappointed with his closing kick. He hit it madly into the hole at home, scored a brace and gave up the lead to draw in fourth. His story on Thursday is the story of most of his year. The tee-to-blue game was there, but he couldn’t find the trophy as often as he wanted. If he does, it is likely to come out this weekend.

“It was obviously a poor finish, but I mean, I played well,” Thomas said. “Having a good start and just hitting a lull there in the middle, but hitting a lot of really, really good puts without going in or feeling it can be a really, really low inning. It’s windy enough out there to score lower than 5.”

T7. Tony Finau, Patrick Reed, Viktor Hovland, Collin Morikawa (-4): Imagine tuning in on Thursday, not knowing this is a 20 golfer’s course, and seeing this ranking. Regardless, it’s nice to see the top 10 of the field enter Friday with a total of 13 major championships. Reed is very engaging here because he absolutely loves this golf course. Hovland, who was in my top 10 this week, played the last five of the bottom four to turn an even round into contention in the final hour of play. He was (and will be) a threat from tee to green.