Rory McIlroy takes a two-shot penalty as Jon Rahm opens with 65 in Abu Dhabi

Rory McIlroy was hit with a two-shot penalty after Thursday's first round of the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship for improving his lie on the par-4 12th, turning a double bogey into a quadruple-bogey 8. He signed for a 2-under 70 instead of 68, eight shots behind leader Francesco Laporta at Yas Links.

Jon Rahm, who left LIV Golf this fall, shot a bogey-free 65 and sits tied for second at 7 under.

What happened on 12

McIlroy's approach rolled back into a divot short of the green, and his chip came back down the slope into another sandy divot, Golfweek and Golf Channel reported. He set his wedge behind the ball, and when he lifted it, a piece of grass stayed pressed down. Officials reviewed the video before he signed his card.

"Obviously there's no intent. I play by the rules," McIlroy told reporters. He said he didn't feel like he pressed down, "but at the same time, I don't want the perception of, like, people thinking like I got away with something either. So I'm happy to take a 2-shot penalty and move on."

Apart from 12, he made six birdies and no other dropped shots.

The leaderboard

Laporta, the Italian, carded an eagle and eight birdies in a bogey-free 62, matching the lowest round of his DP World Tour career, and leads by three. Rahm shares second with Sam Bairstow and Bernd Wiesberger. Rahm made five birdies on the front nine and finished birdie-birdie, according to Golf Channel.

Tyrrell Hatton, another recent LIV departure, is at 5 under. Tommy Fleetwood matched McIlroy at 70.

Race to Dubai stakes

Abu Dhabi is the first of two DP World Tour playoff events. McIlroy, third in the Race to Dubai, played alongside leader Eugenio Chacarra, who also shot 70 after cracking his driver in the pro-am, and Patrick Reed, who shot 74.

What to watch

Round 2 is Friday at Yas Links. McIlroy needs to make up ground on Laporta and keep pace with Chacarra. Rahm's next two rounds are the clearest look yet at how sharp he is after LIV.