Rory McIlroy posted a bogey-free 9-under-par 63 to take a two-stroke lead over Edoardo Molinari of Italy after one round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club.
Tiger Woods, coming off a 79 to miss the secondary cut at the Farmers Insurance Open last week, was tied for 10th after opening with a bogey-free 68 playing alongside McIlroy, who two weeks ago finished one shot back in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship after taking a two-stroke penalty.
“I played really well from tee to green, drove the ball well again,” said McIlroy, who won in Dubai in 2009 for his first professional victory. “I think I only missed a couple of fairways and only missed one green where I had to really get it up and down.
“I took advantage of how I am driving the ball and just need to do more of the same the next three days. … This is a little lower than I went in Abu Dhabi and I feel very comfortable with my game.”
Henrik Stenson of Sweden, who captured the tournament in 2007, shot 70 and was in a tie for 35th that included Fred Couples and Mark O’Meara, both former Dubai champions.
Ernie Els, the 1994 and 2002 champion, struggled to a 74 and was tied for 96th.
