The large number of fans streaming into Delhi Golf Club on a sweaty Saturday afternoon lined both sides of the narrow first fairway well before Rory McIlroy teed off in the 1:40 pm slot. 1, but the Northern Irishman is the leading light as a true globe-trotter, spreading golf’s popularity and acting as the game’s world spokesman. Scottie Scheffler is world No.
Sometimes McIlroy can appear a tad lonely on a course, even lost. Maybe it’s just the lingering Tiger Woods effect, all imperious and with a halo. But there is something very human about the 37-year-old world No. 2, the biggest draw at this week’s $4 million DP World India Championship.
Spain’s Eugenio Chacarra was holding firm at the top. A long putt left and form iffy? No issue, a brilliant birdie got the crowd roaring and his super fan Ronaldo tapped an imaginary ball into goal. At the ninth, bogey again after finding the rough. Ronaldo seemed to have fulfilled his sponsor’s obligations for the day. He vanished into the club house. McIlroy skirts the fifth green, casting a long look at Chacarra, the R2DR leader in live rankings, waiting to putt.
McIlroy, a touch forlorn, studied the greenside leaderboard as he walked up to the green on the par-3 seventh.
McIlroy had completed his unfinished second round in the morning to be 6-under par for the tournament. 9. who was happy to oblige the really young selfie seekers. It didn’t turn out that way as he ended two-over after 15 holes when play was suspended due to fading light; the first day’s rain delay had thrown the schedule into disarray.
Fans, young and old, DGC regulars and new faces, seemed to know how special it was to see McIlroy, only the sixth male player to claim the career slam, playing before them. One question was on everyone’s mind: would he lead a charge in the third round? His third-round card had four bogeys and a double. One of the game’s longest hitters perhaps wasn’t enjoying the narrow fairways and thick rough where the driver must stay in the bag. Perhaps such a course had come too late in the season for the man chasing a record-equalling eighth Road to Dubai Rankings title. The mood of the fans lifted at the sixth tee. Brazil football great Ronaldo, an invitee of a tournament sponsor, joined the group. Two security officials were with the group until then. Two more, both in suits despite the high humidity, flanked the famous Brazilian No.
