DUBAI: Rory McIlroy rode his luck and the punishing Shamal wind on Thursday to get his bid at creating Dubai Desert Classic history off to a storming start.
The 20-year-old Ulsterman started off “ropey” in his own words in the blustery, sand-swept conditions and then looked to Lady Luck to steady his dhow before producing four birdies on the back nine for a four-under 68.
That left him in a six-way tie for the lead alongside Charl Schwartzel of South Africa, Alexander Noren of Sweden, Jeev-Milkha Singh of India, Edoardo Molinari of Italy and Welshman Stephen Dodd.
McIlroy bogeyed the short, par-four second after slamming his drive way left onto the adjacent golf course and he was facing another dropped shot on the next hole after over hitting his putt from 35 feet away.
McIlroy is bidding to become the first man to successfully defend the title here since the tournament started in 1989 and also become the youngest player to successfully defend a title on the European Tour. His win here last year represented his debut win on the pro circuit at just 19 years old and he used that as a platform for a tremendous year that saw him establish a place as the youngest player in the world top 10. But despite a succession of top 10 finishes, he has yet to win again and believes that his familiarity and liking for the Majlis course at the Emirates golf club provides him with the perfect opportunity.
Conditions were in stark contrast to last year when McIlroy opened with what he termed “the easiest 64 I’ll ever shoot” with the gusting wind whipping up sand and dust to impair visibility.
The in-form Schwartzel, who leads the Race to Dubai after winning back-to-back titles home in South Africa last month, said after posting his 68 earlier in the day that it was the toughest conditions he had seen here since he first came in 2003.
Trio share lead
Meanwhile in Bangkok, Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand shot a four-under 68 Thursday to share the lead with Jason Knutzon of the United States and Brazil’s Lucas Lee after the first round of the Asian Tour International.
The 21-year-old Kiradech made five birdies against a bogey on the last hole at the Suwan Golf Country Club in Nakhon Pathom.
“I’m very happy. I hit many wedges into the greens and got four birdies from close range,” said Kiradech, who is entering his second year on the tour and is looking for his first title.
“This is my chance to win. I’ll try to keep it up as it’s my goal to win on the Asian Tour.”
The 44-year-old Knutzon had been struggling with a fever this week, but also mixed five birdies with a bogey.
“Luckily it was pretty cool this morning. which helped,” Knutzon said. “Any time you shoot under par, it should make you feel a bit better.” Lee had a bogey on the 17th before recovering with a birdie on the last for a share of the lead.
“I hit a lot of greens and made the putts I needed to make today. I wasn’t hitting a lot of fairways,” Lee said.
Mars Pucay of the Philippines made a hole-in-one on the third hole en route to a 69 and was tied for fourth place with seven other players in the season-opening event.
