McIlroy leads fog-delayed Dubai Desert Classic
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Northern Ireland teenager Rory McIlroy underlined his Ryder Cup potential with a timely eight under par 64 to open up a one stroke first round lead at the Dubai Desert Classic before play was suspended due to bad light.
The talented 19 year old carded nine birdies to open up a one shot lead over Sweden's Robert Karlsson only a day after new Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie named him as a potential candidate for Celtic Manor next year.
McIlroy's only blemish came on his fourth hole of the day when he drove into a bush but he made amends as he holed from 15 feet on the last for a birdie to ensure the outright lead after calmly striking his approach into the heart of the green.
"It was actually nice to be out late because I wanted to do a little work on my putting before I went out. I was able to do that and holed a few nice ones," said McIlroy.
"The conditions were perfect, the greens were soft, the fairways were soft. It was ideal scoring conditions."
Last year’s European Order of Merit winner Karlsson, a Ryder Cup winner in 2006, carded a bogey free seven under 65 to sit in the clubhouse a shot clear of early pacesetter Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño and South Africa's Charl Schwartzel, who was only able to play 14 holes of his first round and will join 59 others in completing their rounds in the morning.
Karlsson was also happy to take advantage of the conditions which be believes will set a winning total of 20 under par come Sunday - a similar level to the recent tournaments in Abu Dhabi and Doha.
"It was a solid game. There wasn't anything spectacular, but I got my chances, I took most of them and I still missed a couple of chances, but all in all very solid," he said.
"It was a great day for scoring with the greens fairly soft and not much wind.
"I think I had a quick look at 27 putts and I hit ten fairways, I missed a couple of greens but when I missed them I got up and down.
"It's easier this year because the greens are soft so the chipping and pitching is quite a bit easier than normal."
Fernandez-Castaño continued the form which saw the Quinn Insurance British Masters winner finish a strong seventh in Qatar last week.
He stormed out of the blocks with five birdies over his opening nine holes but despite carding a further three birdies was only able to pick up a single stroke on his way home.
"I'm quite happy with the result, but I have to say I didn't really hit the ball well as I was doing but I managed to score and that's the main thing around here, you have to score," he said.
"It's not about how you hit the ball, but how many you do at the end of the day. That's what I did and I am very happy with that."
Frenchman Grégory Havret and Sweden's Alexander Noren sit three back after opening with first round 67s, with Abu Dhabi winner Paul Casey bouncing back from missing the cut last week in Qatar with a bogey free 68 to join in form South African Louis Oosthuizen, who has finished second at his last two events, Hartlepool's Graeme Storm and Justin Rose at four under par.
Hennie Otto made it three South Africans inside the top ten as he joined the quartet at four under with four holes to play of his first round.
"I think it was not a bad start, obviously I could have done better. Having said that, I made a couple of good par saves coming in" said Casey.
"Not a bad start, but I am four behind Rory. That's a hell of a round, eight under around here is very impressive."
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