McIlroy four off lead on delayed first day in India

Key points

• Rory McIlroy shot a two-under 70 to sit tied 13th, four shots behind clubhouse leader Niklas Norgaard at the DP World India Championship in New Delhi.
• Thunder and lightning caused a four-hour suspension on the first day, and the final four groups did not tee off.
• Tommy Fleetwood also finished at two-under after a double bogey at his final hole.

Rory McIlroy carded a two-under-par 70 to finish four shots behind the clubhouse lead on a weather-disrupted first day at the DP World India Championship in New Delhi. Play was suspended for four hours because of thunder and lightning in the area, and resumed at 4pm local time.

McIlroy, the world No 2, was midway through the back nine when the stoppage occurred. He ended the day tied 13th, while Denmark's Niklas Norgaard led the clubhouse on six-under after a 66.

McIlroy's opening round

Starting from the par-four 10th, McIlroy bogeyed that hole but went out in 34 with birdies at the 13th, 15th and 18th. He added another birdie at the second, then bogeyed the third and closed with six straight pars.

McIlroy, who sits third in the Race to Dubai rankings, said: "Yeah, it was okay." He added that he hit the ball well for the most part and that the course is playing tougher than last year because of the long rough.

Yeah, it was okay.

— Rory McIlroy

Other players and schedule

Tom McKibbin, Eugenio Chacarra and one other player were at five-under. Scottish trio Scott Jamieson, Ewen Ferguson and Bob MacIntyre all shot 68.

Tommy Fleetwood dropped two shots at his final hole, the ninth, to finish at two-under alongside McIlroy. Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed, who started later, was two-over after four holes.

The final four groups did not tee off at all. The first round will resume on Friday, with coverage on Sky Sports Golf from 7.30am.