DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A 22-year-old American newbie making his debut on the DP World Tour upstaged Rory McIlroy , Jon Rahm and lots of the world’s high gamers on the Hero Dubai Desert Basic for a share of the first-round lead on Thursday.
David Ford, a senior on the College of North Carolina, holed a 40-foot eagle putt at his first gap, ran off 5 straight birdies halfway by way of the spherical and signed for a 7-under 65 at Emirates Golf Membership.
Ford is a lefty, a triplet, No. 6 on the earth newbie rankings and taking part in outdoors the US for the primary time. He earned an exemption for the Dubai Desert Basic, one of the vital prestigious occasions on the European tour, as a reward for ending the autumn part of the collegiate golf schedule at No. 1 within the PGA Tour’s college rating.
Requested if he was anticipating to contend in Dubai, the place six of the world’s high 20 are competing, Ford stated: “I attempt to maintain my expectations low. I do know the place my recreation is at proper now and I’ve bought lots of people round me believing in me which is basically useful going into this week.
“I simply tried to have enjoyable. Simply come out right here and do the preparation that I do for faculty occasions and simply maintain all the things actually easy and maintain having enjoyable.”
Ford was tied for the lead with Ricardo Gouveia of Portugal and David Micheluzzi of Australia — and 5 pictures away from defending champion McIlroy, who stated he felt “a bit of uncomfortable” in capturing 70 in his first aggressive spherical of 2025.
The No. 3-ranked Northern Irishman was 1 over after eight holes earlier than taking part in his remaining 10 holes in 3 beneath — together with a chip-in at No. 7, his sixteenth gap.
“Undoubtedly not as comfy as I used to be in apply and coming in right here,” McIlroy stated. “However it’s good to get a card in your hand. It type of exposes the issues that it is advisable work on.
“I bought it round and bought it in in a pair beneath, which is good, and didn’t put myself out of the match, which is the primary factor.”
Preston Summerhays, one other high American newbie who performed on the Walker Cup with Ford in 2023, shot 70 and was alongside McIlroy at 2 beneath.
Rahm, who performs on the Saudi breakaway LIV Golf circuit, shot 69 on his debut on the match. No. 8-ranked Viktor Hovland, who acknowledged this week he was going by way of a difficult time after tinkering along with his swing, shot 75.
Ford, who’s planning to show professional in Might, has performed 3 times on the PGA Tour — on the RSM Basic and Barbasol Championship throughout 2022-23 and the Arnold Palmer Invitational final 12 months.
At Bay Hill, he shot 1-under 71 in his first spherical however adopted it with an 83 to overlook the lower.
