‘It doesn’t look good’: McIlroy gets two-shot penalty after improving his lie

The Guardian

Ulsterman insists was no intention on his part Laporta leads Abu Dhabi Championship Rory McIlroy was handed a two-shot penalty after his first round at the Abu Dhabi Championship on Thursday, with officials ruling he improved his lie on a hole where he made double-bogey to spoil his card. McIlroy’s score of six at the par-4 12th hole turned into an even uglier eight and left him posting a two-under 70 to be eight shots off the lead, held by Francesco Laporta after his bogey-free round of 62.