World No. 9 Rory McIlroy began the defense of his Dubai Classic title on Thursday by moving into a six-way tie for the lead on four-under 68.
The 20-year-old hit five birdies and one bogey to join fellow Briton Stephen Dodd, Swede Alex Noren, South African Charl Schwartzel, India’s Jeev Milkha Singh and Italy’s Edoardo Molinari at the top of a congested first-round leaderboard.
Blustery winds made scoring difficult in the desert, with parts of the Emirates Golf Club obscured and Dubai’s skyscraper landscape lost in the sand clouds. McIlroy started with a second-hole bogey after sending his second shot on to the adjoining 18-hole course, but the Northern Irishman recovered immediately with a “lucky birdie” at the par-five next.
PHOTO: REUTERS
“I hit my drive into the left rough and then hacked out a five-wood into the right rough, and hit a wedge to about 35-feet and then if the ball didn’t hit the hole, it was going to be another wedge [next],” McIlroy told reporters. “I was lucky to hit even the side of the hole as it was going to go way past ... it jumped about a foot in the air and went in. I was pretty fortunate and from there on I just played pretty solid golf.”
After six straight pars from the fourth, McIlroy birdied the 10th, 12th, 17th and 18th.
Noren produced one of his best scoring displays since winning the European Masters in Switzerland in September.
“I’m in the Ryder Cup at the moment and if I do make the team, that will be amazing,” said Noren, who occupies sixth place on the European points list.
Money-list leader Schwartzel, winner of two tournaments in his native South Africa last month, produced a flawless round.
“Today was the toughest I’ve seen the Emirates course since I’ve been coming here in 2003,” Schwartzel said.
The 38-year-old Singh had a purple patch of form in mid-round, reeling off four birdies in a row from the ninth.
Molinari, who together with brother Francesco won the World Cup for Italy last year, carded five birdies and one dropped shot in his round, while Welshman Dodd blotted his copybook with bogeys at the 14th and 16th.
Last year’s European No. 1 Lee Westwood began his campaign with a 72 and a 14th-hole double-bogey, after finding water, meant five-times British Open champion Tom Watson marked his Middle East debut with an opening 73. Fellow American Mark O’Meara struggled to a 77.
■NORTHERN TRUST OPEN
AFP, LOS ANGELES
Dustin Johnson of the US fired a seven-under 64 at Riviera Country Club on Thursday to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the Northern Trust Open.
Johnson made the most of cool, calm morning conditions as he nabbed seven birdies without a bogey on the par-71 layout for a one-stroke lead over Andres Romero and Kevin Stadler.
Ricky Barnes and Brandt Snedeker were two shots back on 66.
“Got off to a good start, had good vibes going all day,” said Johnson, who started at the 10th and had two birdies in his first three holes.
After a birdie at the par-five 11th, he drained a 64-foot birdie bomb at the par-four 12th.
Johnson birdied Riviera’s other two par-fives — the 17th and the first — missing an eight-foot eagle attempt at No. 1.
Romero nabbed eight birdies in a six-under 65, more than making up for a double-bogey at the par-four ninth.
Stadler started on the 10th tee and got hot early, with six of his seven birdies in his first nine holes. He cooled off coming in, with one birdie balanced by a bogey.
Steve Stricker, runner-up last year to Phil Mickelson, headed a trio on 67. Stricker launched his round with an eagle at the par-five first hole. He added four birdies and two bogeys to finish alongside Steve Lowery and Cameron Beckman.
Japanese sensation Ryo Ishikawa was in a group of more than a dozen players on three-under 68.
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