Rory McIlroy rules incident: Race to Dubai leader Eugenio Chacarra defends Masters champion over Abu Dhabi penalty
Race to Dubai leader Eugenio Chacarra insists he was ready to help Rory McIlroy try and fight being penalised for a rules breach at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship.
McIlroy, chasing a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title, was handed a two-shot penalty after his opening round at Yas Links GC for an incident at the par-four 12th.
The Masters champion appeared to press his club on grass behind his ball ahead of his fourth shot, having seen his initial chip roll back down the hill and into a divot, although video footage was deemed inconclusive by the rules committee.
McIlroy discussed the incident with tournament officials post-round and was initially unaware of any infringement, although accepted being penalised two strokes under Rule 8.1b(4) for improving the conditions of his stroke.
"I don't think he improves his lie," Chacarra said, having seen playing partner McIlroy drop back alongside him on two under. "Obviously, the referee and him thought different.
"In the video, it doesn't look great, but we've been watching Rory for a long time - he's a class man and never tries to improve his lies or do anything.
"Obviously with this grass in the middle, it's a fluffy grass, so as soon as you put the weight of the club, the grass is going to come down. How is he supposed to hit that shot? I just need to learn. I think it's 50/50.
"I told him I was happy to fight for it, because I didn't think he improved it. But obviously, the media and everything, he thought it didn't look very good. To be fair, in the video, it doesn't look great, but I don't think he improved it at all."
The incident at the 12th - turning a double-bogey six into a quadruple-bogey eight - was McIlroy's only blemish on his card, with the world No 2 posting six birdies to leave himself eight strokes behind early leader Francesco Laporta.
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"Obviously there's no intent - I play by the rules," said McIlroy, who spent time in the scorer's hut discussing the incident with officials. "I try to do everything that I can to never end up in these positions.
"But just by looking at the video, it doesn't look very good. Obviously that wasn't my intent. I'm just trying to get a feel for the lie. The ball is in a sort of bottom of a sandy divot.
"I'm trying to feel like if I can get a 54-degree (wedge) onto the back of the ball, but in the process, this piece of grass has sort of laid down. I don't feel like I pressed down.
"At the same time, I don't want the perception of people thinking like I got away with something either, so I'm happy to take a two-shot penalty and move on."
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In a statement, the DP World Tour said: "Rory McIlroy was penalised two strokes under Rule 8.1b(4) for his actions immediately before playing his fourth stroke, his second chip shot from the rough, on the 12th hole during round one.
"Rule 8.1b(4) permits a player to ground their club lightly right in front of or behind the ball. 'Ground the club lightly' means allowing the weight of the club to be supported by the grass on or above the ground surface.
"There is no penalty, even if the lie is improved. However, a player is not allowed to press the club on the ground. Having reviewed the footage, McIlroy was unable to say whether he had pressed the club on the ground or not.
"However, given his concern over perception of the footage, he was not comfortable proceeding without penalty. He therefore chose to apply a two-stroke penalty."
Watch the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues Friday from 7am on Sky Sports Golf. Get the latest Sky Sports deals or stream with no contract.
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5 of November 2026
