Rory McIlroy opened the DP World India Championship with a solid two-under par round, finishing four shots behind the clubhouse leader on a tumultuous first day marked by thunder and lightning delays in New Delhi.

Play was halted when McIlroy was midway through the back nine, resulting in a four-hour suspension. When action resumed at 4pm local time, he completed his round with a score of 70, placing him tied for 13th.

Key Highlights:

• Niklas Norgaard leads the clubhouse with an impressive six-under 66.
• Tom McKibbin, another Northern Irish player, is tied for second at five-under along with Eugenio Chacarra, who currently ranks second in the Race to Dubai standings.

McIlroy began from the par-four 10th, bogeying his first hole but rebounding with birdies at the 13th, 15th, and 18th. He added another birdie at the second hole, but a bogey at the third followed by six pars rounded out his day.

In his post-round comments, McIlroy reflected, "I felt like I hit the ball pretty well for the most part. Missed a few putts early on... it felt like it could have been a couple better but still a solid start."

The course conditions proved challenging, with McIlroy noting, "The golf course is playing a little bit tougher than it did last year just with how long the rough is."

Meanwhile, Scottish golfers Scott Jamieson, Ewen Ferguson, and Bob MacIntyre all shot 68. Tommy Fleetwood ended his round at two-under, finishing alongside McIlroy after a difficult final hole. Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed struggled with only four holes completed, sitting at two-over.

The remaining groups will resume play on Friday as the tournament continues.