Northern Ireland golfer Rory McIlroy is in a share for the lead after day one of his Dubai Desert Classic title defence.
The World number nine made the turn in level par after one bogey and a birdie before picking up another shot on the par 5 tenth hole. His fairway wood approach to the green would set up a two putt four. A par at the 11th was followed by yet another birdie at the 12th , moving the Ulsterman to within two of the leaders.
McIlroy then pared the next four holes in a row before an unusually wild tee shot on the par three 17th would allow him to hole a long birdie putt from off the green. He would then play the 18th in text book fashion with a sensible lay up setting up a wedge to about ten feet. With the ball duly dropped in the hole, McIlroy moved into a share of the lead at four under par.
Darren Clarke carded an opening round of 71 that included two birdies and a bogey, to leave him at one under par for the day.
Starting on the back nine, Clarke got off to the perfect start with a birdie at the par five tenth. That was followed by thirteen straight pars with another birdie at the long par four sixth hole. His final hole of the day left a poor taste in the mouth as he bogeyed the par four ninth.
Graeme McDowell put a poor two over par front nine behind him and picked up birdies at the 13th and 17th to end the day at level par, one shot better than Ballyclare golfer Gareth Maybin. Maybin, who started on the back nine, was one under par with two left to play, before back to back bogeys would see him start the second round at one over par.
Michael Hoey got off to a poor start with a round of 73. Despite recording five birdies he also recorded four bogeys and two double bogeys, leaving him well down the leader board.
The Belfast man, playing the course the right way round, was two under par after three, before a bogey was followed by two doubles. A run of three pars and birdie saw him regroup after ten holes, but another run of three bogeys in a row would leave him five over with five to play.
Hoey finished strongly with two birdies in his last three holes, but still has a lot of work to do if he is to be around for the weekend.
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