Associated Press
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A 22-year-old U.S. amateur made his European Tour debut, beating Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and many of the world's best at the Dubai Desert Classic Top players won a share of the first-round match Thursday's lead.
UNC senior David Ford holed a 40-foot eagle putt on the first hole to record five consecutive birdies midway through the tournament and shoot a 65 at Emirates Golf Club , 7 under par.
Ford, a southpaw triplet, is ranked No. 6 in the world amateur rankings and is competing outside the United States for the first time. He received an exemption to the Dubai Desert Classic, one of the most prestigious events on the European Tour, as a reward for completing the fall season of the college golf schedule and finishing No. 1 in the PGA Tour's collegiate rankings.
Asked if he expected to compete in Dubai, where six of the world's top 20 players are competing, Ford said: “I try to keep my expectations low. I know where my game is now and I Having a lot of people around me that I believe in myself has been really helpful this week.
“I just want to have fun. Just come out here and prepare like I do for college events, keep it really simple and keep having fun.”
Ford shares the lead with Portugal's Ricardo Gouveia and Australia's David Micheluzzi and is five strokes ahead of defending champion McIlroy, who said he will be ready in 2025 Shooting 70 in the first round of the year was “a little uncomfortable.”
The third-ranked Northern Irishman was 1 over after eight holes and was 3 under for the final 10 holes, including on the seventh hole, his No. 16th hole).
“Definitely not as comfortable as I was in training and coming here,” McIlroy said. “But it's nice to have a card in your hand. It kind of exposes what you need to do.
“I got it and came in a couple strokes under, which was good, and didn't knock myself out of the tournament, which was the most important thing.”
Preston Summerhays, another top American amateur who played in the Walker Cup with Ford in 2023, shot 70 and was tied with McIlroy at 2 under.
Rahm, playing on Saudi Arabia's breakout LIV Golf Tour, shot a 69 in his tournament debut. No. 8 Viktor Hovland, who shot 75 this week, admitted he was going through a challenging period after adjusting his swing.
Ford, who plans to turn pro in May, has played in three PGA Tour events – the RSM Classic and Barbasol Championship in 2022-23 and last year's Arnold Palmer Invitational.
At Bay Hill, he shot a 1-under 71 in the first round, but then shot an 83 and missed the cut.
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