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McIlroy among leaders in Dubai

Thu 4th, February 2010

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (Sports Network) - Rory McIlroy made the Dubai Desert Classic his first European Tour victory last year, and on Thursday took a step toward his first successful title defense.

McIlroy posted a four-under 68 and is one of six first-round co-leaders at the Dubai Desert Classic at the Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club.

"It wouldn't be very nice if we shot a pretty bad one in your first round as a defense," said McIlroy.

Charl Schwartzel, already a two-time winner this season on the European Tour, Stephen Dodd, Alexander Noren, Jeev Milkha Singh and Edoardo Molinari joined McIlroy atop the leaderboard on Thursday.

Paul Casey, Anders Hansen, Richard Green, Alvaro Quiros and amateur Matteo Manassero are knotted in seventh place at three-under 69.

Tom Watson, 60, made his first European Tour start outside of a major in almost 17 years on Thursday. Watson, who lost the British Open playoff last year to Stewart Cink, carded a one-over 73 in round one and is tied for 46th.

"It was an up-and-down round," acknowledged Watson.

Heavy wind greeted the players Thursday and most called it the most difficult round they've faced at the Emirates Course.

"It was tricky out there," said McIlroy. "I think the wind is supposed to stay for a while. It's very dusty out there. You had to protect your eyes from the sand."

McIlroy was able to do it well on Thursday.

The young Irishman, who moved up to ninth in the world rankings this year, started with a bogey at the second. McIlroy atoned for the error one hole later with a birdie at the par-five third.

McIlroy started the second nine with a birdie at the par-five 10th and another at the 12th. He was two shots off the pace at two-under par, but his closing run earned him his share of the lead.

McIlroy closed with back-to-back birdies at 17 and 18 to join the logjam in first.

"In any tournament it's great to get off to a good start," said McIlroy. "Four-under was a great score today. Hopefully keep the golf up the next three days and make a good defense of it."

Schwartzel, recently named European Tour golfer of the month for January, was flawless on Thursday. He tallied two birdies on each side against no bogeys and showed the form that has brought him to the top of this year's Race to Dubai.

"It's very special," said Schwartzel. "It's been such an incredible month."

Noren, Molinari and Singh all mixed five birdies with one bogey in their rounds on Thursday, but the most impressive run of all belonged to the newest dad on tour.

Singh birdied four in a row from the ninth to get his piece of the lead.

Dodd had six birdies and two bogeys on Thursday.

NOTES: Last week's Qatar Masters winner Robert Karlsson birdied three of the last four holes for a two-under 70 and a share of 12th...European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie had a one-under 71 on Thursday...The woes continue for former U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell. In round one, he shot a nine- over 81 and Campbell hasn't broken par since the first round of the Castello Masters in October.