Rory McIlroy lands two-shot penalty for improving lie

The infraction leaves McIlroy tied with Race to Dubai leader Eugenio Chacarra on two under.

Rory McIlroy tees off on the 11th hole during a Pro-Am prior to the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship at Yas Links Golf Course. Pic: Warren Little/Getty Images

Rory McIlroy has been hit with a two-shot penalty for improving his lie during the opening round of the Abu Dhabi Championship at Yas Links.

The Holywood man was deemed to have improved his lie by pressing down on the grass behind his ball with his club before hitting a chip on the par-four 12th.

The infraction changed his six to a quadruple bogey eight and meant he ultimately signed for a two-under 70.

"I play by the rules," said the world number two. "I feel like this is never really...I try to do everything that I can to never end up in these positions.

"But just by looking at the video, like it doesn't look very good. Obviously that wasn't my intent. I'm just trying to get a feel for the lie."

He added: "The ball is in a sort of bottom of a sandy divot. I'm trying to feel like if I can get a 54-degree (wedge) on to the back of the ball, but in the process, this piece of grass has sort of laid down, and I guess the technical term for the rule is if you press down on the piece.

"I don't feel like I pressed down. But at the same time, I don't want the perception of people thinking like I got away with something either, so I'm happy to take a two-shot penalty and move on and move into tomorrow."