Rory McIlroy received a two-shot penalty after the first round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship on Wednesday, dropping him down the leaderboard. Italy's Francesco Laporta carded a 10-under-par 62 to take the early lead at the Emirates Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.
The penalty was assessed to McIlroy for an unspecified rules violation during his opening round at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. The Northern Irishman had been among the early contenders before the sanction.
Laporta's bogey-free round gave him a one-shot advantage over a group of chasers. Spain's Eugenio Chacarra is among those in contention after the first day of the European Tour event.
