McIlroy leads in Dubai

2009-01-29

Share this article:  Digg |  StumbleUpon |  del.icio.us |  Reddit

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Ticker)—Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy underlined his Ryder Cup potential on Thursday with a timely 8-under-par 64 to open up a one-stroke lead at the Dubai Desert Classic.

The teenager was one of the few players lucky enough to get through 18 holes as a lengthy fog delay prior to the start of the round resulted in play being suspended later due to darkness.

The talented 19-year-old carded nine birdies to open up a one-stroke lead over Sweden’s Robert Karlsson only. The impressive round came just a day after new Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie named him as a potential candidate for Celtic Manor next year.

“It was actually nice to be out late (due to the delayed start) 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,” McIlroy said. “The conditions were perfect, the greens were soft, the fairways were soft. It was ideal scoring conditions.”

McIlroy’s only blemish came on his fourth hole when he drove into a bush. He made amends, however, 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.

European No. 1 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-Castano 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 Friday morning.

Karlsson was also happy to take advantage of the conditions which he 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,” Karlsson said. “It was a great day for scoring with the greens fairly soft and not much wind.”

Fernandez-Castano continued the form which saw the 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,” Fernandez-Castano said.

Frenchman Gregory Havret and Sweden’s Alexander Noren sit three back after each opened with a 67.

Abu Dhabi winner Paul Casey bounced 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.