Rory McIlroy receives a two-shot penalty after officials at the Abu Dhabi Championship rule he improved his lie during his first round. Coverage across outlets ties the decision to a specific moment on the 12th hole, where a close-up video shows his wedge pressing the grass behind his ball.
Several reports describe the impact on his score: McIlroy appears to turn a double-bogey situation into a worse result after the ruling, with his card ultimately reflecting the penalty. McIlroy also acknowledges that the footage “doesn’t look very good,” according to the reports that reference his reaction.
Outlets largely agree on the core facts—penalty assessed, location (the 12th), and the reason (improving his lie)—but differ slightly in what they emphasize first. Some focus on the controversy implied by video, while others stress the scoring sequence and McIlroy’s acknowledgement of how the clip may look.
