Rory McIlroy faced a stern test at the DP World India Championship at the Delhi Golf Club, but he emerged with a solid start by implementing a strategic approach that differed significantly from many of his competitors. McIlroy, making his debut in India, acknowledged the course was "tougher than I expected" after finishing the opening round with a three-under 69, placing him in a tie for 17th.

The key to McIlroy's success on the tricky course was his decision to leave his driver out of his bag, a move that raised eyebrows considering he ranked second in driving distance on the PGA Tour in 2025, averaging 323 yards. Instead, he focused on precision and accuracy off the tee, recognizing that the narrow, tree-lined fairways of the Delhi Golf Club penalized wayward drives. "You just have to get the ball in the fairway," McIlroy explained. "The rough is unpredictable".

This strategy marked a departure from McIlroy's usual power game, where his driver is often his biggest weapon. He opted for a more conservative approach, relying on his iron play to set up birdie opportunities. This was evident in his first round, where he carded six birdies against three bogeys. McIlroy successfully executed this strategy on the second and third holes, using accurate iron shots from the fairway to create birdie chances. He also sank a 27-foot birdie putt on the par-3 seventh hole.

While McIlroy's go-for-broke style has brought him much success, the DP World India Championship demanded a different approach. The course's unique challenges, including unpredictable rough and strategically placed pin positions, favored a more measured game plan. McIlroy adapted accordingly, demonstrating his ability to adjust his strategy based on course conditions.

Despite not using his driver, McIlroy remained aggressive when appropriate, particularly on the par-5s. He successfully birdied both the 14th and 18th holes, contributing to his under-par score. This shows that while he was conservative off the tee on many holes, he still capitalized on opportunities to score when the situation allowed.

McIlroy's decision to forgo his driver was not merely a spur-of-the-moment choice but a calculated strategy based on his assessment of the course. In his pre-tournament press conference, he hinted that he was unlikely to use his driver, suggesting that the risk outweighed the reward on this particular course. He is aiming for his third DP World Tour victory this season, adding to his triumphs at the Masters and the Amgen Irish Open.

While McIlroy acknowledged that the course was more challenging than he initially anticipated, he expressed satisfaction with his opening-round performance. He recognized the importance of patience and precision on the Delhi Golf Club course, where "you're just really trying to be as conservative as possible off the tee and then trying to pick off birdies on the par fives and maybe pick up a couple more".

While McIlroy's 69 was a solid start, it left him four shots behind the early leader, Shane Lowry, his Ryder Cup teammate, who fired an impressive eight-under 64. Other members of the European Ryder Cup team, including Tommy Fleetwood and captain Luke Donald, also performed well, further highlighting the challenging yet scoreable nature of the course.