McIlroy tied for lead at World Tour Championship and strengthens Race to Dubai title bid

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Rory McIlroy was already an overwhelming favorite to win the European tour’s season-long Race to Dubai title.

He made his chances even better on Thursday.

McIlroy shot 5-under 67 and was tied for the lead with Tyrrell Hatton after the first round of the season-ending World Tour Championship.

A top-10 finish will guarantee McIlroy wins the year-long points race — formerly known as the Order of Merit — for the sixth time, tying with the late Seve Ballesteros and moving two behind Colin Montgomerie’s record haul.

Thriston Lawrence, the South African who is second in the Race to Dubai standings behind McIlroy, is the only player who can catch the Northern Irishman and opened with a 73, leaving him six strokes behind his rival already.

“I am under no illusions that that was probably Thriston’s worst day,” McIlroy said.

Lawrence has to win — nothing less is good enough — and then needs McIlroy to finish tied for 11th or lower.

Paul Waring, the winner in Abu Dhabi last week in the first event of the end-of-season playoffs, was alone in third place after a 68 and American golfer Billy Horschel was in a seven-way tie for fourth place, one stroke further back.

The No. 3-ranked McIlroy made six birdies, the highlight coming on the par-3 17th when he rolled in a 50-footer to join Hatton in the lead.

The par-5 last hole offered a good chance for McIlroy to take the outright lead, especially after he split the fairway with his drive. He leaked his approach right, failed to find the green with his third shot and narrowly missed his birdie attempt.

McIlroy was playing alongside Lawrence in the final group and said he was thinking of more than what the South African was doing.

“I want to go on from here and win the golf tournament,” McIlroy said. “I have opened with a really good score but I need to go out and play similarly over these next three days.”

Hatton, who plays on the LIV Golf circuit, finished two shots back in second place last week after a closing 64 and carried that form to Dubai, even though he didn't feel too comfortable around the Earth Course.

“To be honest, I feel like the score was better than it felt,” the No. 18-ranked Hatton said. “I felt I was tinkering over most tee shots and at times, I felt like my misses were bigger than perhaps they have been over the last month or so.”

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Billy Horschel of the United States hits off the first tee during the first round of World Tour Golf Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Paul Waring of England hits off the first tee during the first round of World Tour Golf Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Tyrell Hatton of England hits off the first tee during the first round of World Tour Golf Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Thriston Lawrence of South Africa hits off the first tee during the first round of World Tour Golf Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits off the first tee during the first round of World Tour Golf Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, left, and Thriston Lawrence of South Africa wait before the first tee off during the first round of World Tour Golf Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits off the first tee during the first round of World Tour Golf Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

LONDON (AP) — Siya Kolisi returned as captain and prop Wilco Louw was picked for his first test match since 2021 as South Africa made 12 changes for the rugby test against under-pressure England on Saturday.

Only forwards Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nche and Bongi Mbonambi were retained on Thursday from the team which defeated Scotland 32-15 on Sunday, meaning Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus changed his entire back division to deal with a six-day turnaround.

Erasmus has averaged 8.5 personnel changes per test in the 11 matches since the Boks' opening test in 2024, against Wales in June. That was also at Twickenham, where Saturday's match is staged.

Kolisi reclaimed the armband from Etzebeth, while Louw — a late injury call-up for the tour — was back for the first time since a behind-closed-doors test against Argentina during the pandemic.

Erasmus went with a 5-3 split in favor of the forwards on the bench, unlike a 7-1 against the Scots.

England, which has lost its last four matches and was beaten by the Boks in the Rugby World Cup semifinals last year, made four changes after its 42-37 loss to Australia on Saturday — including a promotion to the starting team for winger Ollie Sleightholme after his two tries off the bench against the Wallabies.

Scrumhalf Jack van Poortvliet, fullback Freddie Steward and flanker Sam Underhill were also brought in.

“Test matches against South Africa are always thrilling contests, and I’m sure Saturday will be no exception," England coach Steve Borthwick said.

Lineups:

England: Freddie Steward, Tommy Freeman, Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade, Ollie Sleightholme, Marcus Smith, Jack van Poortvliet; Ben Earl, Sam Underhill, Chandler Cunningham-South, George Martin, Maro Itoje, Will Stuart, Jamie George (captain), Ellis Genge. Reserves: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Fin Baxter, Dan Cole, Nick Isiekwe, Alex Dombrandt, Harry Randall, George Ford, Tom Roebuck.

South Africa: Aphelele Fassi, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Manie Libbok, Grant Williams; Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (captain), RG Snyman, Eben Etzebeth, Wilco Louw, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche. Reserves: Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Koch, Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith, Cobus Reinach, Handre Pollard, Lukhanyo Am.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

Scotland's Tom Jordan, holds onto the ball as he is tackled by South Africa's Willie Le Roux during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Scotland and South Africa in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

South Africa's Eben Etzebeth, left, and Scotland's Zander Fagerson have an tussle during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Scotland and South Africa in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

South Africa's Lukhanyo Am, left is tackled by Scotland's Finn Russell, and Scotland's Pierre Schoeman during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Scotland and South Africa in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)