DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A 22-year-old American golfer made a remarkable impression in his first experience on the European tour by sharing the lead after the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic on Thursday, stunning many of the sport’s leading figures, including Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm.
David Ford, a senior at the University of North Carolina, opened his round with an impressive 40-foot eagle putt, followed by five consecutive birdies, finishing with a score of 7-under 65 at the Emirates Golf Club.
Ford, a left-handed player and one of three triplets, holds the sixth position in the global amateur rankings and is competing outside the United States for the first time. His participation in this prestigious tournament came as a reward for ranking No. 1 in the PGA Tour’s university standings as he completed the autumn segment of his collegiate season.
When questioned about his expectations for competing in Dubai, where six players ranked in the world’s top 20 are participating, Ford responded, “I try to keep my expectations low. I know where my game is at right now and I have got a lot of people around me believing in me which is really helpful going into this week.”
He emphasized his focus on enjoying the game and maintaining a straightforward approach, stating, “I just tried to have fun. Just come out here and do the preparation that I do for college events and just keep everything really simple.”
Ford is tied for the lead with Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia and Australia’s David Micheluzzi, placing five strokes ahead of defending champion McIlroy, who expressed discomfort after finishing his inaugural competitive round of 2025 with a score of 70.
The third-ranked player from Northern Ireland began his day with a 1-over par after eight holes but managed to recover by finishing his final ten holes at 3-under, including a chip-in at No. 7, which was his 16th hole of the day.
“Definitely not as comfortable as I was in practice and coming in here,” McIlroy admitted. “But it’s nice to get a card in your hand. It sort of exposes the things that you need to work on.” He was content with his performance, noting that it was critical not to eliminate himself from contention.
Preston Summerhays, another prominent American amateur who teamed up with Ford during the 2023 Walker Cup, also scored 70, finishing at 2-under, alongside McIlroy.
Rahm, competing on the LIV Golf circuit, kicked off his tournament with a score of 69, while Viktor Hovland, who has been grappling with swing adjustments, struggled with a score of 75.
Ford intends to turn professional in May and has made three appearances on the PGA Tour, including at the RSM Classic and Barbasol Championship in 2022-23 and last year at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, where he recorded a 1-under 71 during his opening round before missing the cut with an 83.
