DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy shot a 30 on the back nine Thursday at the Dubai World Championship to gain the early advantage over top-ranked Luke Donald in the duel for the European money title.
The 22-year-old McIlroy had six birdies — including a 20-foot putt at the last — on the back nine for a 6-under 66 and finished third behind leader Peter Hanson of Sweden (64) and 1999 British Open champion Paul Lawrie of Scotland (65).
Donald, who played alongside McIlroy, shot an even-par 72.
McIlroy, who came from behind to win last week's Hong Kong Open, made a "couple of silly mistakes" on the front nine. The Northern Irishman had a double bogey on the second hole and bogeyed No. 8 after hitting over the back of the green.
"It was a perfect start to the tournament for me," said McIlory, who has been complaining of fatigue from a lingering virus. "To shoot a great score like that really sets me up nicely for the next three days. The back nine was just pretty much flawless.
"I held some really, really nice putts. Just giving myself chances and opportunities for birdies, and lucky enough I was able to make a few."
Donald made four birdies on the front nine but struggled on the back. He had three consecutive bogeys to finish tied for 26th.
The 34-year-old Englishman played his first tournament last week in South Africa after a five-week break so he could attend the birth of his second daughter and bury his father, who died unexpectedly last month.
"A mixture of two halves really," Donald said. "I played solid the front nine and hit a few shots that cost me, poor drives on 14 and 15 and it was bit of a loose back nine, unfortunately. But trying to get better from here on out."
Should Donald win the Race To Dubai, he would become the first to win both the European and American money titles. No player has won both, let alone in the same season.
McIlroy must win the $7.5 million tournament and hope Donald finishes outside the top nine to claim the European money title.
Two years ago, McIlroy lost the money title when Lee Westwood won in Dubai to move past him. This time, he is happy to be in second spot.
"It's sort of taken the pressure off me," McIlroy said. "I'm sort of like, well, I'm not 100 percent and if that doesn't quite happen, it doesn't happen and there is nothing I can do about it. You can just go about your game and try and play as well as you can."
Donald acknowledged it was a challenge playing alongside someone in such great form as McIlroy.
"It's always hard playing with Rory," he said. "It almost feels like a bit of a match-play kind of scenario. But the goal is to concentrate on myself and just try and do what I can do to try and win this tournament. Hopefully, the rest will take care of itself."
The only other golfer to have a run like McIlroy was Hanson, who made six birdies on the back nine and eight overall. The 49th-ranked Swede is looking for his first win this year and fifth career victory on the tour.
"Overall, it's the best golf I've played," Hanson said. "It's a quite demanding golf course and the wind picked up a little bit over the back nine. So I'm very, very happy with the way I struck the ball and I rolled in a few putts."
Hanson credited his improvement to last year's winning Ryder Cup team, playing alongside McIlory and Lee Westwood.
"Just to be among them and play a practice round and play the Ryder Cup that close to the best, it helped me," Hanson said. "And get clear feedback on where I was, what to improve and how to try and get better and get into the top position in the world."
Lawrie, who briefly held the clubhouse lead, was a surprise second considering the 163rd-ranked Scot has won only once this year and hasn't had a top-10 finish since placing fifth at the Iberdrola Open in May.
"Hit the ball solid," Lawrie said. "Gave myself an awful lot of chances out there, especially a wee run from the fifth through to the 14th."
Sergio Garcia of Spain is fourth after a 67, while Ross Fisher, Robert Rock and Alvaro Quiros are another shot back at 4 under in the season-ending tournament.
Third-ranked Westwood and No. 4 Martin Kaymer each shot 73s.
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