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Rory McIlroy opens DP World India Championship with a statement start

Golden-hour golf from India: Rory McIlroy’s opening tee shot at the DP World India Championship sets an early tone for the week.

The DP World Tour kicked off the day with a striking sunrise clip: Rory McIlroy sending his opening tee shot into the morning light at the DP World India Championship. It’s a simple scene, but one that says plenty about intent. The first ball of the week can frame everything that follows—rhythm, confidence, and the balance between aggression and control.

McIlroy has built his career on turning tee shots into scoring platforms. In the video, the hallmarks of his best drives are all there: an unhurried takeaway, a powerful but sequenced transition, and a full, balanced hold through impact. Whether he’s chasing max carry or shaping to a preferred side, the foundations are the same—stable lower body, synced arms and torso, and late, efficient speed.

Rory McIlroy’s strengths off the tee

For a player of McIlroy’s profile, the opening shot isn’t about proving raw distance; it’s about establishing a playable pattern. Early in the day, air is typically cooler and calmer, and that can reward a controlled launch window and reliable start line. McIlroy’s stock move—neutral to slightly upward launch with the face matching path—lets him access both carry and rollout without over-shaping the ball.

Key checkpoints visible in the clip:

  • Tempo: A measured rehearsal and no rush from the top—crucial for starting-line control under first-tee adrenaline.
  • Structure: Width on the way back and a braced lead side at impact—two anchors for consistent strike.
  • Finish: Chest high and left, full rotation, and no chase—evidence of speed delivered on time, not forced late.

For those watching with an analytical eye this week, one metric will matter as much as raw distance: how often he finds his intended corridor. When McIlroy’s start line is predictable, he turns medium-length approach shots into birdie chances and takes big numbers largely out of play.

What to watch at the DP World India Championship

Opening days on the DP World Tour are often about settling travel legs, calibrating ball flight to the local air, and picking the right moments to press. The video’s golden-hour setting hints at an early wave, when fairways can be firmer and winds lighter. Expect the emphasis to be on positioning from the tee—hitting the right thirds of fairways to open up preferred angles rather than chasing every last meter.

Three themes for the week:

  • Shot windows: A consistent, medium-high launch will be the safest play if morning conditions remain stable.
  • Shape discipline: One committed shape per hole. McIlroy is at his best when he minimizes indecision and sticks to a clear picture.
  • Scoring conversion: Clean tee shots should feed wedge and short-iron proximity. Expect the putter’s pace control to become the bellwether.

There’s no leaderboard context in the clip, and that’s the point: a single tee shot won’t define a tournament, but it can define a day. If McIlroy carries this first-tee rhythm through the opening stretch, he’ll bank early stress-free pars, pick off the accessible flags, and set up the kind of low-variance start that his best weeks are built on.

Watch the DP World Tour’s post below for the full moment from the tee—and keep an eye on how that same tempo shows up across the front nine.