Did Rory McIlroy cheat: A breakdown of his controversial Abu Dhabi penalty

Rory McIlroy was penalized two shots at the DP World Tour's 2026 Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship after he was deemed to improve his lie on the 12th hole. Even if Rory didn't intend to break the rules, he did trample down grass behind his ball. We break down how McIlroy broke the Rules of Golf and whether he deserved the penalty by the letter of the rules.