Rory McIlroy insists the Race to Dubai title remains open, despite gaining an early edge over South Africa's Thriston Lawrence on the first day of the DP World Tour Championship.
McIlroy and Lawrence are locked in a close race for the European crown, with McIlroy, the favorite, needing only a top-11 finish to secure it - even if Lawrence takes the win.
McIlroy made a strong start on Thursday, carding a five-under 67 to tie for the lead with Tyrrell Hatton, while Lawrence struggled with a one-over opening round. However, McIlroy remains focused, aware that Lawrence could still mount a comeback.
"I want to go on from here and win the golf tournament," said the Northern Irishman. "I've opened up with a really good score but I need to go out and play similarly over these next three days, not just to try to win the tournament but also to try to get the job done in the Race to Dubai.
"I'm under no illusions that that was probably Thriston's worst day. If he goes out and has three good ones, I still need to go out there and play some very solid golf."
McIlroy's strong opening round in Dubai featured just one bogey, while the highlight of his day came on the 17th hole when he made a birdie putt of close to 50 feet.
"I thought I did well," he added. "The golf course is playing a little bit tougher than it has done in previous years with how thick the rough is.
"So I thought I got my ball in play pretty well for the most part, but then when I didn't I felt like I was pretty smart in getting it back in play, or if I was going for a green in two, missing it on the right side or giving myself enough room that I had a chance to get it up and down.
"I made some nice pars around the middle of the round when a couple of holes could have got away from me, and then I finished well with the birdies on 14 and 17."
Lawrence had a topsy-turvy day as he mixed four birdies and five bogeys to finish well off the pace.
Realistically, McIlroy's biggest challenge will come from co-leader Hatton, or the in-form Paul Waring, who won last week's DP World Tour event in Abu Dhabi and lies just one shot behind the leaders after Thursday's opening round.
