# Rory McIlroy's 11-birdie win after rules penalty

> Rory McIlroy overcomes rules penalty with 11-birdie 63 at Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship.
- Title: Rory McIlroy's 11-birdie win after rules penalty · Golf
- Summary: Rory McIlroy overcomes rules penalty with 11-birdie 63 at Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship.
- Keywords: rory mcilroy, abu dhabi aldar championship, race to dubai, jon rahm, tyrrell hatton, liv golf, golf rules, penalty, birdie, Golf
- Source: Golf — https://golf.com/news/rory-mcilroy-fights-off-rules-controversy-11-birdies
- Published: 2026-11-06T09:45:35+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: rory mcilroy, abu dhabi aldar championship, race to dubai, jon rahm, tyrrell hatton, liv golf, golf rules, penalty, birdie, sports
## Rules controversy
Rory McIlroy faced a two-shot penalty for improving his lie on the 12th hole during Thursday's opening round.
## Penalty impact
The penalty turned his score from 68 to 70, leaving him far behind early leaders after Day 1.
## Friday's performance
McIlroy fired a nine-under 63 to get within one shot of co-leaders Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton.
## McIlroy's response
He said he made peace with the rules violation but didn't dwell on it or feel he did anything wrong.

> I honestly, I guess, before I left the course, I made peace with it. I didn’t dwell on it or I didn’t feel like I did anything wrong.
## Overcoming adversity
McIlroy started with an unplayable lie and bogey but made 11 birdies over his final 17 holes.
## Race to Dubai standings
Eugenio Chacarra leads McIlroy in the Race to Dubai standings with eight shots behind after halfway.
## Key takeaway

Rory McIlroy played a nine-under 63 at Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship after a two-shot penalty for a rules violation, moving within one shot of co-leaders Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton.