World Number Three Retief Goosen shrugged off any signs of rust from a six week break as he burst out of the blocks in the Dubai Desert Classic with an eight under par 64 to share the first round lead with Australian Richard Green and Welshman Jamie Donaldson.
It was a score that could not be matched in the afternoon session although World Number One Tiger Woods, his playing partner and Europe’s form horse Henrik Stenson of Sweden and local favourite, Dubai-based Scot Ross Bain, forced their way among the leaders.
Goosen, who edged ahead of Phil Mickelson in the Official World Golf Rankings while enjoying a welcome rest from the game, fired six birdies and an eagle in a faultless opening round at the Emirates Golf Club.
“The first three holes I was all over the golf course but I hit a good drive down the 13th and hit a five iron in there to about 20 feet and made the putt,” said Goosen. “Suddenly you feel a little bit better and more relaxed. So it was nice to get off to that start and then I had a good run in the middle of the course.”
Goosen, who already has one European Tour title under his belt this season following his win in the South African Airways Open at the end of last year, heads a star-studded cast that includes Tiger Woods, the World Number One, and defending champion Ernie Els, the World Number Five.
“I'm glad that the field is so strong,” added Goosen. “You know, it doesn't matter where you play in Europe these days, the field is strong. You've got to play really well to win. The golf is so strong on The European Tour, but it's nice to see Ernie and Tiger here.”
Left-hander Green rekindled memories of his 1997 triumph with a bogey-free 64 to join Goosen at the top of the leaderboard. Three birdies on the front nine laid the foundations to his round before five birdies coming home catapulted him through the field.
But Green’s back nine was eclipsed by that of Donaldson who raced home in a staggering seven under par 30, finishing with six successive birdies to move into a three-way share of the lead.
Much of the focus was understandably on Woods as he set about trying to win the title at the third time of asking and two birdies and an eagle in the first four holes gave him the perfect start.
But five pars followed by a bogey on the tenth halted the momentum before he picked up two more birdies coming home for a five under par 67.
“You couldn't have asked for a better start than that what happened, but after that, didn't really do much after a couple birdies and a bogey,” said Woods. “The tenth was still playing so easy today, dead downwind. A pretty easy birdie and didn't do bad, made six. That would have been nice to get it going there on the back nine. Although I'm very pleased, good start, still right there and I’ve got the early morning time tomorrow.”
Woods’ score was matched by Stenson, who made his move on the back nine with two birdies and an eagle.
The group on five under also included the young English pair of Paul Casey and Nick Dougherty, Australian Nick O’Hern, and Swede Niclas Fasth.
Another Englishman David Lynn was a shot better on six under par alongside the local hero, Dubai-based Scot Ross Bain, who finished birdie eagle to finish the first round just two off the pace and, more significantly, ahead of Woods and co.
Els launched his defence of the title with a solid four under par 68 to sit alongside a host of players former European Number One Lee Westwood of England.
