Pieters quick off blocks in Dubai Desert Classic
>> DUBAI: Belgium’s Thomas Pieters fired a five-under-par 67 in difficult conditions to grab a one-shot lead after the opening round of the Dubai Desert Classic on Thursday.
The former Ryder Cup winner rolled in eight birdies to set the early pace, despite a double-bogey on the first hole, having started on the 10th.
“I know I’m hitting the ball quite nice and I’m just looking forward to the next three days,” said Pieters, who won his fourth European Tour title at the Czech Masters last year.
“It’s always a bit scary starting out, you don’t know what to expect even though you’ve put the work in. But I think today was one of my better rounds of the year.”
American David Lipsky sat alone in second place after a fourunder 68, but a host of big names appeared ready to pounce.
Last year’s winner Bryson DeChambeau carded a 70, while former major champions Padraig Harrington, Louis Oosthuizen and Sergio Garcia all signed for oneunder first rounds of 71.
It was a bad day for Lee Westwood, though, after the 46-yearold followed his impressive victory last week in the Abu Dhabi Championship by slumping to a six-over-par 78.
LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
67 — Thomas Pieters (BEL)
68 — David Lipsky (USA)
69 — Masahiro Kawamura (JPN), Shaun Norris (RSA), Kurt Kitayama (USA), Soren Kjeldsen (DEN), Lucas Herbert (AUS), Wu Ashun (CHN), Matthieu Pavon (FRA), Eddie Pepperell (GBR), Robert Karlsson (SWE), Dean Burmester (RSA), Kalle Samooja (FIN), Romain Langasque (FRA)